Methods and compositions for treating prostate cancer or inducing a humoral immune response against prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to prostate cancer markers, compositions comprising such markers, and methods of using such markers to induce or increase an immune response against prostate cancer. An immune response against the markers correlates with an immune response, in particular a humoral immune response, against prostate cancer cells which immune response is preferably associated with prophylaxis of prostate cancer, treatment of prostate cancer, and/or amelioration of at least one symptom associated with prostate cancer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/092,676 filed Aug. 28, 2008 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to prostate cancer markers, compositions comprising such markers, and methods of using such markers and compositions to induce or increase an immune response against prostate cancer. An immune response against the markers correlates with an immune response, in particular a humoral immune response, against prostate cancer cells which immune response is preferably associated with prophylaxis of prostate cancer, treatment of prostate cancer, and/or amelioration of at least one symptom associated with prostate cancer.

2. BACKGROUND

The immune system plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of cancers. When cancers progress, it is widely believed that the immune system either fails to respond sufficiently or fails to respond appropriately, allowing cancer cells to grow. Currently, standard medical treatments for cancer including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and cellular therapy have clear limitations with regard to both efficacy and toxicity. To date, these approaches have met with varying degrees of success dependent upon the type of cancer, general health of the patient, stage of disease at the time of diagnosis, etc. Improved strategies that combine specific manipulation of the immune response to cancer in combination with standard medical treatments may provide a means for enhanced efficacy and decreased toxicity.

One therapeutic approach to cancer treatment involves the use of genetically modified tumor cells which express cytokines locally at the vaccine site. Activity has been demonstrated in tumor models using a variety of immunomodulatory cytokines, including IL-4, IL-2, TNF-alpha, G-CSF, IL-7, IL-6 and GM-CSF, as described in Golumbeck P T et al., Science 254:13-716, 1991; Gansbacher B et al., J. Exp. Med. 172:1217-1224, 1990; Fearon E R et al., Cell 60:397-403, 1990; Gansbacher B et al., Cancer Res. 50:7820-25, 1990; Teng M et al., PNAS 88:3535-3539, 1991; Columbo M P et al., J. Exp. Med. 174:1291-1298, 1991; Aoki et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 89(9):3850-4, 1992; Porgador A, et al., Nat. Immun. 13(2-3):113-30, 1994; DranoffG et al., PNAS 90:3539-3543, 1993; Lee C T et al., Human Gene Therapy 8:187-193, 1997; Nagai E et al., Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 47:2-80, 1998 and Chang A et al., Human Gene Therapy 11:839-850, 2000, respectively. The use of autologous cancer cells as vaccines to augment anti-tumor immunity has been explored for some time. See, e.g., Oettgen et al., “The History of Cancer Immunotherapy”, In: Biologic Therapy of Cancer, Devita et al. (eds.) J. Lippincot Co., pp 87-199, 1991; Armstrong T D and Jaffee E M, Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 11(3):681-96, 2002; and Bodey B et al., Anticancer Res 20(4):2665-76, 2000).

Several phase I/II human trials using GM-CSF-secreting autologous or allogeneic tumor cell vaccines have been performed (Simons et al. Cancer Res 1999 59:5160-8; Soiffer et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 95:13141-6; Simons et al. Cancer Res 1997 57:1537-46; Jaffee et al. J Clin Oncol 2001 19:145-56; Salgia et al. Clin Oncol 2003 21:624-30; Soiffer et al. J Clin Oncol 2003 21:3343-50; Nemunaitis et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Feb. 18 96(4):326-31; Borello and Pardoll, Growth Factor Rev. 13(2):185-93, 2002; and Thomas et al., J. Exp. Med. 200(3)297-306, 2004).

Administration of genetically modified GM-CSF-expressing cancer cells to a patient results in an immune response and preliminary clinical efficacy against prostate and other cancers has been demonstrated in Phase I/II clinical trails. However, there remains a need for improved methods and compositions for increasing the effectiveness of such therapies. These and other needs are provided by the present invention.

3. SUMMARY

The present invention provides prostate cancer markers, compositions comprising such markers, and methods of using such markers to induce or increase an immune response against prostate cancer. An immune response against the markers correlates with an immune response, in particular a humoral immune response, against prostate cancer cells which immune response is preferably associated with prophylaxis of prostate cancer, treatment of prostate cancer, and/or amelioration of at least one symptom associated with prostate cancer.

Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides a composition for the treatment of prostate cancer in a subject, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, Neuronatin (NNAT), Selenoprotein (SELS), HIG1 domain family, member 2A (HIGD2A), Signal sequence receptor, gamma (SSR3) and Neuropilin 2 (NRP2). In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for the treatment of prostate cancer in a subject, comprising administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for inducing a de novo immune response in a subject against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, comprising administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for increasing an immune response in a subject against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, comprising administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the subject is a mammal. In some embodiments, the subject is a human. In some embodiments, the immune response is a humoral immune response. In some embodiments, the immune response is a cellular immune response.

In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are rendered proliferation incompetent by irradiation.

In some embodiments, administration of the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2 results in enhanced therapeutic efficacy relative to administration of a composition comprising a single population of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine or the coding sequence of one or more said prostate tumor-specific antigens alone. In some embodiments, enhanced therapeutic efficacy is measured by increased overall survival time. In some embodiments, enhanced therapeutic efficacy is measured by increased progression-free survival. In some embodiments, enhanced therapeutic efficacy is measured by decreased tumor size.

In some embodiments of the compositions described herein, the same population of cells is genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the population of genetically modified cells are autologous. In some embodiments, the population of genetically modified cells are allogeneic. In some embodiments, the population of genetically modified cells are bystander cells.

In some embodiments of the compositions and methods provided herein, two different populations of cells are genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, one of the populations of genetically modified cells are autologous. In some embodiments, one of the populations of genetically modified cells are allogeneic. In some embodiments, one of the population of genetically modified cells are bystander cells. In some embodiments of the compositions described herein, a first population of cells comprise tumor cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence of a cytokine, and a second population of cells comprise bystander cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the tumor cells are autologous cells. In some the embodiments, the tumor cells are allogeneic cells.

In some embodiments of the compositions and methods provided herein, the cytokine expressed by the cytokine-expressing population of genetically modified cells is selected from the group consisting of interferon alpha (IFN-α), interferon beta (IFN-β), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β), erythropoietin (EPO), MIP3A, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In particular embodiments, the cytokine is GM-CSF.

In some embodiments, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one prostate tumor-associated antigen selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of two prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of three prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of four prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of five prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of six prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of seven prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of eight prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and FLJ14668. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and Cardiolipin. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668 and Cardiolipin. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668 and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668 and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668 and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668 and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HIGD2A and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and Cardiolipin. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, SELS and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, HIGD2A and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, NNAT and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, SELS and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, HIGD2A and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, SELS and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, HIGD2A and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SELS and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, HIGD2A and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS, HIGD2A and NRP2. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and NNAT. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin, NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin, NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin, NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, Cardiolipin, NNAT and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, NNAT, SELS and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, SELS, HIGD2A and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and SELS. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and HIGD2A. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3. In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A and SSR3.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.

In some embodiments of the compositions and methods provided herein, the composition further comprises a tyrosine kinase inhibitor selected from the group consisting of gefitimib, erolotinib and imatinib.

In some embodiments of the compositions and methods provided herein, the composition further comprises an additional cancer therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the additional cancer therapeutic agent is an anti-CTLA4 antibody. In some embodiments, the one or more populations of cells of the cellular immunotherapy composition are further genetically modified to express an anti-CTLA-4 antibody. In some embodiments, the additional cancer therapeutic agent is an anti-PD-1 antibody. In some embodiments, the one or more populations of cells of the cellular immunotherapy composition are further genetically modified to express an anti-PD-1 antibody.

The invention further provides kits comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, Neuronatin (NNAT), Selenoprotein (SELS), HIG1 domain family, member 2A (HIGD2A), Signal sequence receptor, gamma (SSR3) and Neuropilin 2 (NRP2), for use according to the description provided herein.

The invention further provides methods of making a composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. The methods comprise obtaining one or more population of cells and modifying the one or more population of cells by introducing into the cells: (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine operably linked to a promoter; (ii) one or more nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a prostate tumor-associated antigen selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2; and (iii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a selectable marker operably linked to a promoter.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 presents the expression patterns of PNPO with increasing prostate cancer disease grade derived from the Oncomine database. In FIG. 1, Class 1: Normal prostate (n=41), Class 2: Prostate cancer (n=62), Class 3: Lymph node metastasis (n=9), P-value: 1.25E-5, and Correlation=0.408.

FIG. 2 presents the expression patterns of FLNB with increasing prostate cancer disease grade derived from the Oncomine database. In FIG. 2, Class 1: Prostate carcinoma (n=59), Class 2: Metastatic prostate cancer (n=20), and P-value: 4.6E-7.

FIG. 3A presents the trial design for the G-9803 Phase II GVAX immunotherapy clinical trial in chemotherapy-naive patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (n=55). The trial enrolled PSA-rising patients, who were treated with low-dose GVAX immunotherapy; as well as metastatic patients, who were treated with both low and high-dose GVAX immunotherapy.

FIG. 3B presents the trial design for the G-0010 Phase II GVAX immunotherapy clinical trial in chemotherapy-naive patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) (n=80). The trial enrolled metastatic patients, who were treated with low, mid and high-dose GVAX immunotherapy.

FIG. 4A presents a plasmid map of pKCCMVHLA-A2402Flag.

FIG. 4B presents representative blots of HLA-A24 probed with post-vaccination serum from immuno-positive G-0010 patients treated with GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer. Serum was diluted 1:500.

FIG. 4C presents a correlation of HLA-A24 Ab induction with survival in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 5A presents the fold-induction of OUTB2 antibody titer in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer.

FIG. 5B presents a correlation of OUTB2 Ab induction with survival in G-9803 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 6A presents a plasmid map of pKCCMVHLA-A2402Flag.

FIG. 6B presents the fold-induction of FLJ14668 antibody titer in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer.

FIG. 6C presents the fold-induction of tetanus toxoid IgG/IgM antibodies in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 6D presents a correlation of FLJ14668 Ab induction with survival in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 6E presents a comparison of predicted and actual survival in FLJ14668 antibody positive and negative patient populations in G-0010.

FIG. 6F presents G-0010 FLJ14668 antibody dose-response.

FIG. 7A presents plasmid map of pKCCMV-NNATFlag.

FIG. 7B presents the fold-induction of NNAT IgG/IgM antibodies in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 7C presents the association of NNAT Ab immune response and survival in G-0010.

FIG. 8A presents the fold-induction of Cardiolipin IgG/IgM antibodies in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 8B presents the association of Cardiolipin Ab immune response and survival in G-0010.

FIG. 9 presents the association of HLA-A24 and/or FLJ14668 immune response and survival in G-0010.

FIG. 10 presents the association of NNAT and/or Cardiolipin immune response and survival in G-0010

FIG. 11 presents the association of FLJ14668 and/or HLA-A24 and/or Cardiolipin immune response and survival in G-0010.

FIG. 12A presents a correlation of HLA-A24 and/or OUTB2 Ab induction with survival in G-9803 metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 12B presents a correlation of HLA-A24 and/or OUTB2 Ab induction with survival in G-9803 PSA-rising HPRC patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 12C presents a correlation of HLA-A24 and/or OUTB2 Ab induction with survival in G-0010 metastatic HPRC patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 13A presents the effect of GVAX immunotherapy dose level on HLA-A24, FLJ14668 and OUTB2 antibody induction in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 13B presents the effect of the number of GVAX vaccinations per patient on HLA-A24 antibody induction in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 13C presents the effect of the number of GVAX vaccinations per patient on OUTB2 antibody induction in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 13D presents the effect of the number of GVAX vaccinations per patient on FLJ14668 antibody induction in G-0010 patients.

FIG. 14 presents a correlation of SELS Ab induction with survival in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 15 presents a correlation of HIGD2A Ab induction with survival in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 16 presents a correlation of SSR3Ab induction with survival in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 17 presents the percentage of patients in groups A, B, and 3/4, respectively, with induction of HIGD2A or SSR3Ab following GVAX immunotherapy.

FIG. 18 presents an O.D. comparison of SSR3Ab titer in normal (untreated) subjects, in patients before GVAX immunotherapy (“pre”), and in patients following GVAX immunotherapy (“post”).

FIG. 19 presents a correlation of NRP2 Ab induction with survival in G-0010 patients following GVAX immunotherapy. MST=median survival time.

FIG. 20A presents flow cytometry analyses of expression of the GM-CSF and the B 16-associated antigens Trp2 and gp 100 by Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells modified to secrete GM-CSF and to over-express either of the two B16-associated antigens Trp2 (LLC.GMKd.Trp2) and gp100 (LLC.GMKd.gp100). The expression levels of GM-CSF on unmodified B16F10 cells (negative control) are represented by the shaded histogram. The open histograms represent GM-CSF expression levels of the B16F10.GMKd, LLC.GMKd.gp100, and LLC.GMKd.Trp2 cells. For Trp2 and gp100 expression, the antibody isotype control is represented by shaded histograms and specific antibodies against Trp2 and gp 100 are represented by open histograms.

FIG. 20B PCR analyses of the fold increase in gene copies of the melanoma-associated antigens Trp2 and gp 100 in the single-antigen Lewis Lung Carcinoma immunotherapy cells (B16F10.GMKd, LLC.GMKd.Trp2, and LLC.GMKd.gp100) compared to the B16 cell line.

FIG. 21 presents specific T-cell responses induced by administration of lentivirus modified LLC cell lines. B16F10 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 animals were immunized on day 3 after tumor cell implantation (2×10E5 cells) with 3×10E6 allogeneic GM-C SF-secreting B16F10 cells (B16F10.GMKd) as multivalent antigen immunotherapy or with GM-CSF-secreting LLC cells modified to over-express either of the two B16-associated antigens Trp2 (LLC.GMKd.Trp2) or gp100 (LLC.GMKd.gp 100) as single B16 antigen-specific immunotherapies.

FIG. 22 presents survival data of mice immunized with GM-CSF-secreting Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells modified to express one or two of B16-associated antigens, Trp2 (LLC.GMKd.Trp2) and Trp2/gp100 (LLC.GMKd.Trp2/gp100) and challenged with a lethal dose of live B16F10 cells.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides prostate cancer markers, compositions comprising such markers, and methods of using such markers to induce or increase an immune response against prostate cancer. The markers, compositions, immunoglobulins, and methods are useful, for example, for inducing or increasing an immune response, in particular a humoral immune response, against prostate cancer cells which immune response is preferably associated with prophylaxis of prostate cancer, treatment of prostate cancer, and/or amelioration of at least one symptom associated with prostate cancer.

Without intending to be bound to any particular theory or mechanism of action, it is believed that one aspect of the immune response induced by therapy with genetically modified tumor cells that express a cytokine and a prostate tumor-associated antigen is an immune response against certain polypeptides expressed by the genetically modified tumor cell and/or cells from the tumor afflicting the subject. It is also believed that this immune response plays an important role in the effectiveness of this therapy to treat, e.g., prostate cancer.

5.1 Definitions

By the term “cytokine” or grammatical equivalents, herein is meant the general class of hormones of the cells of the immune system, including lymphokines, monokines, and others. The definition includes, without limitation, those hormones that act locally and do not circulate in the blood, and which, when used in accord with the present invention, will result in an alteration of an individual's immune response. The term “cytokine” or “cytokines” as used herein refers to the general class of biological molecules, which affect cells of the immune system. The definition is meant to include, but is not limited to, those biological molecules that act locally or may circulate in the blood, and which, when used in the compositions or methods of the present invention serve to regulate or modulate an individual's immune response to cancer. Exemplary cytokines for use in practicing the invention include, but are not limited to, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma, interleukins (e.g., IL-1 to IL-29, in particular, IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18), tumor necrosis factors (e.g., TNF-alpha and TNF-beta), erythropoietin (EPO), MIP3a, ICAM, macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

As used herein, the terms “cancer”, “cancer cells”, “neoplastic cells”, “neoplasia”, “tumor”, and “tumor cells” (used interchangeably) refer to cells that exhibit relatively autonomous growth, so that they exhibit an aberrant growth phenotype or aberrant cell status characterized by a significant loss of control of cell proliferation. A tumor cell may be a hyperplastic cell, a cell that shows a lack of contact inhibition of growth in vitro or in vivo, a cell that is incapable of metastasis in vivo, or a cell that is capable of metastasis in vivo. Neoplastic cells can be malignant or benign. It follows that cancer cells are considered to have an aberrant cell status.

“Tumor cells” may be derived from a primary tumor or derived from a tumor metastases. The “tumor cells” may be recently isolated from a patient (a “primary tumor cell”) or may be the product of long term in vitro culture.

The term “primary tumor cell” is used in accordance with the meaning in the art. A primary tumor cell is a cancer cell that is isolated from a tumor in a mammal and has not been extensively cultured in vitro.

The term “antigen from a tumor cell” and “tumor antigen” and “tumor cell antigen” and “tumor-associated antigen” may be used interchangeably herein and refer to any protein, peptide, carbohydrate or other component derived from or expressed by a tumor cell which is capable of eliciting an immune response. The definition is meant to include, but is not limited to, whole tumor cells, tumor cell fragments, plasma membranes taken from a tumor cell, proteins purified from the cell surface or membrane of a tumor cell, unique carbohydrate moieties associated with the cell surface of a tumor cell or tumor antigens expressed from a vector in a cell. The definition also includes those antigens from the surface of the cell, which require special treatment of the cells to access.

The term “genetically modified tumor cell” as used herein refers to a composition comprising a population of cells that has been genetically modified to express a transgene, and that is administered to a patient as part of a cancer treatment regimen. The genetically modified tumor cell vaccine comprises tumor cells which are “autologous” or “allogeneic” to the patient undergoing treatment or “bystander cells” that are mixed with tumor cells taken from the patient. Generally, the genetically modified tumor cell is of the same general type of tumor cell as is afflicting the patient, e.g., if the patient is afflicted with metastatic prostate cancer, the genetically modified tumor cell is also a metastatic prostate cancer cell. A GM-CSF-expressing genetically modified tumor cell vaccine may be referred to herein as “GVAX”®. Autologous and allogeneic cancer cells that have been genetically modified to express a cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF, followed by readministration to a patient for the treatment of cancer are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,637,483, 5,904,920, 6,277,368 and 6,350,445, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. A form of GM-CSF-expressing genetically modified cancer cells or a “cytokine-expressing cellular vaccine” for the treatment of pancreatic cancer is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,033,674 and 5,985,290, both of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. A universal immunomodulatory cytokine-expressing bystander cell line is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,973, expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The term “enhanced expression” as used herein, refers to a cell producing higher levels of a particular protein than would be produced by the naturally occurring cell or the parental cell from which it was derived. Cells may be genetically modified to increase the expression of a cytokine, such as GM-CSF, or a prostate tumor-associated antigen. The expression of cytokine or tumor antigen may be increased using any method known in the art, such as genetically modifying promoter regions of genomic sequences or genetically altering cellular signaling pathways to increase production of the cytokine or tumor antigen. Also, cells can be transduced with a vector coding for the cytokine or tumor antigen, or immunogenic fragments thereof.

By the term “systemic immune response” or grammatical equivalents herein is meant an immune response which is not localized, but affects the individual as a whole, thus allowing specific subsequent responses to the same stimulus.

As used herein, the term “proliferation-incompetent” or “inactivated” refers to cells that are unable to undergo multiple rounds of mitosis, but still retain the capability to express proteins such as cytokines or tumor antigens. This may be achieved through numerous methods known to those skilled in the art. Embodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, treatments that inhibit at least about 95%, at least about 99% or substantially 100% of the cells from further proliferation. In one embodiment, the cells are irradiated at a dose of from about 50 to about 200 rads/min or from about 120 to about 140 rads/min prior to administration to the mammal. Typically, when using irradiation, the levels required are 2,500 rads, 5,000 rads, 10,000 rads, 15,000 rads or 20,000 rads. In several embodiments of the invention the cells produce beta-filamin or immunogenic fragment thereof, two days after irradiation, at a rate that is at least about 10%, at least about 20%, at least about 50% or at least about 100% of the pre-irradiated level, when standardized for viable cell number. In one embodiment of the invention, cells are rendered proliferation incompetent by irradiation prior to administration to the subject.

By the term “individual”, “subject” or grammatical equivalents thereof is meant any one individual mammal.

By the term “reversal of an established tumor” or grammatical equivalents herein is meant the suppression, regression, or partial or complete disappearance of a pre-existing tumor. The definition is meant to include any diminution in the size, potency or growth rate of a pre-existing tumor.

The terms “treatment”, “therapeutic use”, or “medicinal use” as used herein, shall refer to any and all uses of the claimed compositions which remedy a disease state or symptom, or otherwise prevent, hinder, retard, or reverse the progression of disease or other undesirable symptoms in any way whatsoever.

The term “administered” refers to any method that introduces the cells of the invention (e.g. cancer vaccine) to a mammal. This includes, but is not limited to, intradermal, parenteral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, intravenous (including via an indwelling catheter), intratumoral, via an afferent lymph vessel, or by another route that is suitable in view of the patient's condition. The compositions of this invention may be administered to the subject at any site. For example, they can be delivered to a site that is “distal” to or “distant” from the primary tumor.

The term “induced immune response” or “de novo immune response” as used herein means that a specific immune activation is detectable (e.g. detection of a B-cell and/or T-cell response). An example of an induced immune response is detection of an amount of an antibody that binds an antigen which is not detected prior to administration of a cytokine-expressing cellular vaccine of the invention.

The term “increased immune response” as used herein means that a detectable increase of a specific immune activation is detectable (e.g. an increase in B-cell and/or T-cell response). An example of an increased immune response is an increase in the amount of an antibody that binds an antigen which is detected a lower level prior to administration of a cytokine-expressing cellular vaccine of the invention. Another example, is an increased cellular immune response. A cellular immune response involves T cells, and can be observed in vitro (e.g. measured by a Chromium release assay) or in vivo. An increased immune response is typically accompanied by an increase of a specific population of immune cells.

By the term “retarding the growth of a tumor” is meant the slowing of the growth rate of a tumor, the inhibition of an increase in tumor size or tumor cell number, or the reduction in tumor cell number, tumor size, or numbers of tumors.

The term “inhibiting tumor growth” refers to any measurable decrease in tumor mass, tumor volume, amount of tumor cells or growth rate of the tumor. Measurable decreases in tumor mass can be detected by numerous methods known to those skilled in the art. These include direct measurement of accessible tumors, counting of tumor cells (e.g. present in blood), measurements of tumor antigens (e.g. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Alphafetoprotein (AFP) and various visualization techniques (e.g. MRI, CAT-scan and X-rays). Decreases in the tumor growth rate typically correlates with longer survival time for a mammal with cancer.

By the term “therapeutically effective amount” or grammatical equivalents herein refers to an amount of an agent, e.g., a cytokine-expressing cellular vaccine of the invention, that is sufficient to modulate, either by stimulation or suppression, the immune response of an individual. This amount may be different for different individuals, different tumor types, and different preparations. The “therapeutically effective amount” is determined using procedures routinely employed by those of skill in the art such that an “improved therapeutic outcome” results.

As used herein, the terms “improved therapeutic outcome” and “enhanced therapeutic efficacy,” relative to cancer refers to a slowing or diminution of the growth of cancer cells or a solid tumor, or a reduction in the total number of cancer cells or total tumor burden. An “improved therapeutic outcome” or “enhanced therapeutic efficacy” therefore means there is an improvement in the condition of the patient according to any clinically acceptable criteria, including an increase in life expectancy or an improvement in quality of life (as further described herein)

The term “nucleic acid” refers to deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides and polymers thereof (“polynucleotides”) in either single- or double-stranded form. Unless specifically limited, the term encompasses nucleic acids containing known analogues of natural nucleotides that have similar binding properties as the reference nucleic acid and are metabolized in a manner similar to naturally occurring nucleotides. Unless otherwise indicated, a particular nucleic acid molecule/polynucleotide also implicitly encompasses conservatively modified variants thereof (e.g. degenerate codon substitutions) and complementary sequences and as well as the sequence explicitly indicated. Specifically, degenerate codon substitutions may be achieved by generating sequences in which the third position of one or more selected (or all) codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues (Batzer et al., Nucleic Acid Res. 19: 5081 (1991); Ohtsuka et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260: 2605-2608 (1985); Rossolini et al., Mol. Cell. Probes 8: 91-98 (1994)). Nucleotides are indicated by their bases by the following standard abbreviations: adenine (A), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and guanine (G).

Stringent hybridization conditions” and “stringent wash conditions” in the context of nucleic acid hybridization experiments such as Southern and Northern hybridizations are sequence dependent, and are different under different environmental parameters. Longer sequences hybridize at higher temperatures. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen (1993) Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes part 1 chapter 2 “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid probe assays” Elsevier, New York. Generally, highly stringent hybridization and wash conditions are selected to be about 5° C. to 20° C. (preferably 5° C.) lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. Typically, under highly stringent conditions a probe will hybridize to its target subsequence, but to no other unrelated sequences.

The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. Very stringent conditions are selected to be equal to the T_(m) for a particular probe. An example of stringent hybridization conditions for hybridization of complementary nucleic acids that have more than 100 complementary residues on a filter in a Southern or northern blot is 50% formamide with 1 mg of heparin at 42° C., with the hybridization being carried out overnight. An example of highly stringent wash conditions is 0.1 5M NaCl at 72° C. for about 15 minutes. An example of stringent wash conditions is a 0.2×SSC wash at 65° C. for 15 minutes (see, Sambrook, infra, for a description of SSC buffer). Often, a high stringency wash is preceded by a low stringency wash to remove background probe signal. An example medium stringency wash for a duplex of, e.g., more than 100 nucleotides, is 1×SSC at 45° C. for 15 minutes. An example low stringency wash for a duplex of, e.g., more than 100 nucleotides, is 4-6×SSC at 40° C. for 15 minutes. For short probes (e.g., about 10 to 50 nucleotides), stringent conditions typically involve salt concentrations of less than about 1.0M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3, and the temperature is typically at least about 30° C. Stringent conditions can also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. In general, a signal to noise ratio of 2× (or higher) than that observed for an unrelated probe in the particular hybridization assay indicates detection of a specific hybridization

The terms “identical” or percent “identity” in the context of two or more nucleic acid or protein sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the sequence comparison algorithms described herein or by visual inspection

For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are input into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identity for the test sequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the designated program parameters.

Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), by the BLAST algorithm, Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-410 (1990), with software that is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or by visual inspection (see generally, Ausubel et al., infra). For purposes of the present invention, optimal alignment of sequences for comparison is most preferably conducted by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2: 482 (1981).

As used herein, a “peptide” refers to an amino acid polymer containing between about 8 and about 12 amino acids linked together via peptide bonds. A peptide according to the present invention can comprise additional atoms beyond those of the 8 to twelve amino acids, so long as the peptide retains the ability to bind an MHC I receptor, e.g., an HLA-A2 receptor, and form a ternary complex with the T-cell receptor, the MHC I receptor, and the peptide.

Conservative substitution” refers to the substitution in a polypeptide of an amino acid with a functionally similar amino acid. The following six groups each contain amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one another:

-   -   Alanine (A), Serine (S), and Threonine (T)     -   Aspartic acid (D) and Glutamic acid (E)     -   Asparagine (N) and Glutamine (Q)     -   Arginine (R) and Lysine (K)     -   Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), and Valine (V)     -   Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), and Tryptophan (W).

The term “about,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, refers to a value that is no more than 10% above or below the value being modified by the term. For example, the term “about 5 μg/kg” means a range of from 4.5 μg/kg to 5.5 μg/kg. As another example, “about 1 hour” means a range of from 48 minutes to 72 minutes. Where the term “about” modifies a value that must be an integer, and 10% above or below the value is not also an integer, the modified value should be rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, “about 12 amino acids” means a range of 11 to 13 amino acids.

The term “physiological conditions,” as used herein, refers to the salt concentrations normally observed in human serum. One skilled in the art will recognize that physiological conditions need not mirror the exact proportions of all ions found in human serum, rather, considerable adjustment can be made in the exact concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and other ions, while the overall ionic strength of the solution remains constant.

5.2 Antigens Associated with Therapy with Proliferation Incompetent Tumor Cells that Express GM-CSF and a Prostate Tumor-Associated Antigen

In certain aspects as described below, the invention provides methods that comprise inducing or increasing immune responses against antigens associated with a likelihood of responsiveness to treatment with proliferation-incompetent tumor cells that express cytokines, e.g., GM-CSF. In some embodiments, the therapies are predicted to result in an improved therapeutic outcome for the subject, for example, a reduction in the level of PSA in the patient's serum, a decrease in cancer-associated pain or improvement in the condition of the patient according to any clinically acceptable criteria, including but not limited to a decrease in metastases, an increase in life expectancy or an improvement in quality of life. The antigens may be expressed endogenously by cells native to the subject or may be exogenously provided to the subject by, e.g., the administered genetically modified tumor cells. The discussion below briefly describes examples of such antigens.

HLA class I histocompatibility antigen (alias MHC class I antigen A*24, Aw-24, A-9) is a 40689 Da protein of 365 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:1) encoded on chromosome 6 (Entrez Gene cytogenetic band 6p21.3). Representative nucleotide sequence HLA-A2402 is shown (SEQ ID NO: 2). HLA-A24 belongs to the HLA class I heavy chain paralogues (N'guyen et al. 1985; Little et al. 1992). This class 1 molecule is a heterodimer consisting of a heavy chain and a light chain (β-2 microglobulin). The heavy chain is anchored in the membrane as a single-pass type I membrane protein. HLA-A24 plays a central role in the immune system by presenting peptides derived from the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The following alleles of A-24 are known: A*2401, A*2402, A*2403, A*2406, A*2408 (A9HH), A*2410 (A*24JV), A*2413 (A*24YM) and A*2414 (A*24SA). Allele A*2402 is represented in all major racial groups. Allele A*2406 and allele A*2413 are found in the Australian Aboriginal population. Allele A*2414 is found in individuals of South American descent. See N'Guyen C, Sodoyer R, Trucy J, Strachan T, Jordan B R. The HLA-AW24 gene: sequence, surroundings and comparison with the HLA-A2 and HLA-A3 genes. Immunogenetics. 1985; 21(5):479-89. PMID: 2987115 and Little A M, Madrigal J A, Parham P. Molecular definition of an elusive third HLA-A9 molecule: HLA-A9.3. Immunogenetics. 1992; 35(1):41-5. PMID: 1729171

FLJ14668encodes a protein (SEQ ID NO: 3), also designated hypothetical protein LOC84908 (NP_116211), on chromosome 2 ENSEMBL cytogenetic band: 2p13.3). A representative nucleotide sequence encoding FLJ14667 protein is NM_032822 (SEQ ID NO: 4). The protein sequence for FLJ14668 is most similar to the human Sm G protein, a “common protein” component of the snRNP. The region of greatest homology is within the Sm 1 and 2 motifs that characterize the protein members of the Sm group and it is therefore thought that LOC84908 bears some functional similarity, however, function and role are currently unknown (Lehner and Sanderson 2004: Simpson et al. 2000) See Lehner, B. and Sanderson, C.M., A protein interaction framework for human mRNA degradation, Genome Res. 14 (7), 1315-1323 (2004). PMID: 15231747 and Simpson, J.C., Wellenreuther, R., Poustka, A., Pepperkok, R. and Wiemann, S., Systematic subcellular localization of novel proteins identified by large-scale cDNA sequencing, EMBO Rep. 1 (3), 287-292 (2000).

Cardiolipin (bisphosphatidyl glycerol) is an important component of the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it constitutes about 20% of the total lipid. Cardiolipin is a dimeric phospholipid synthesized from two lipid substrates, CDP-diacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Its synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme CL synthase, which is encoded by the gene CRD1 (CLS1). It is typically present in metabolically active cells of the heart and skeletal muscle. It has also been observed in certain bacterial membranes. It serves as an insulator and stabilizes the activity of protein complexes important to the electron transport chain Anti-cardiolipin antibodies can also be increased in numerous conditions, including malaria and tuberculosis (McNeil et al., 1990). See McNeil, H. P., Simpson, R. J., Chesterman, C. N., Krilis, S. A. Anti-phospholipid antibodies are directed against a complex antigen that includes a lipid-binding inhibitor of coagulation: beta 2-glycoprotein I (apolipoprotein H). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87 (11): 4120 (1990).

As Cardiolipin is a phospholipid, and thus not encoded by a nucleic acid sequence, the phrase “genetically modified to express the coding sequence of Cardiolipin” as used herein refers to any genetic modification of a cell or population of cells which results in the increased production of Cardiolipin in the cell. Thus, in some embodiments, a cell genetically modified to express Cardiolipin in accordance with the methods provided herein is genetically modified to express an enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of Cardiolipin, e.g., CL synthase. In other embodiments, a cell genetically modified to express Cardiolipin in accordance with the methods provided herein is gentically modified to express an enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of the cardiolipin precursors CDP-diacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. In some embodiments, the enzyme is CDP-diacylglycerol synthase 1 (CDS1). In some embodiments, the enzyme is CDP-diacylglycerol synthase 2 (CDS2).

NNAT (alias Peg5, MGC 1439) encodes 2 different isoforms of Neuronatin alpha (9237Da, 81 amino acids, SEQ ID NO: 7) and beta (6022 Da, 54 amino acids, SEQ ID NO: 32). The Beta (or #2) variant lacks an alternate in-frame exon compared to alpha (or #1) variant, resulting in an isoform that is shorter compared to isoform alpha. NNAT is encoded on chromosome 20 (Ensembl cytogenetic band: 20q11.23). Representative nucleotide sequence NM_005386 (transcript variant 1; SEQ ID NO: 8) and NM _181689(transcript variant 2; SEQ ID NO: 33). Neuronatin is a proteolipid that may be involved in the regulation of ion channels during brain development (Duo and Joseph 1996a). The encoded protein may also play a role in forming and maintaining the structure of the nervous system, specifically in the segment identity in the hindbrain and pituitary development, and maturation or maintenance of the overall structure (Usui et al. 1997). This gene is found within an intron of the BLCAP gene, but on the opposite strand. This gene is imprinted and is expressed only from the paternal allele, while BLCAP is not imprinted. Abundant in 18-24week old fetal brain. Postnatally its expression declines and only minimal levels are present in adulthood (Duo and Joseph 1996b). See Usui,H., Morii,K., Tanaka,R., Tamura,T., Washiyama,K., Ichikawa,T. and Kumanishi,T. cDNA cloning and mRNA expression analysis of the human neuronatin. High level expression in human pituitary gland and pituitary adenomas. J. Mol. Neurosci. 9 (1), 55-60 (1997). PMID: 9356927and Dou,D. and Joseph,R. Cloning of human neuronatin gene and its localization to chromosome-20q 11.2-12: the deduced protein is a novel ‘proteolipid’ Brain Res. 723 (1-2), 8-22 (1996a). PMID: 8813377and Dou,D. and Joseph,R. Structure and organization of the human neuronatin gene Genomics 33 (2), 292-297 (1996b). PMID: 8660979

SELS (Alias: VIMP, ADO₁₅, SBBI8, SEPS1, AD-015, MGC2553, MGC104346) is a 21116 Da protein (representative amino acid sequence NP_(—)982298.1; SEQ ID NO: 11) of 189 amino acids encoded on chromosome 15q26.3 (Ensembl cytogenetic band). Representative nucleotide sequence NM_(—)203472 (SEQ ID NO: 12). SELS is involved in the degradation process of misfolded endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal proteins, participating in the transfer of misfolded proteins from the ER to the cytosol, where they are destroyed by the proteasome in a ubiquitin-dependent manner (Ye et al. 2005). SELS may act by serving as a linker between DERL1, which mediates the retrotranslocation of misfolded proteins into the cytosol, and the ATPase complex VCP, which mediates the translocation and ubiquitination and suggesting that it forms a membrane complex with DERL1 that serves as a receptor for VCP (Lilley et al. 2005). See Ye, Y., Shibata, Y., Kikkert, M., van Voorden, S., Wiertz, E. And Rapoport, T. A. Inaugural Article: Recruitment of the p97 ATPase and ubiquitin ligases to the site of retrotranslocation at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102 (40), 14132-14138 (2005); and Lilley, B. N. and Ploegh, H. L. Multiprotein complexes that link dislocation, ubiquitination, and extraction of misfolded proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102 (40), 14296-14301 (2005).

HIGD2A (alias MGC2198) encodes a 11529 Da protein (reference NP_(—)620175) of 106 amino acids (SEQ ID NO: 5) encoded on chromosome 5 (Ensembl cytogenetic band: 5q35.2). Representative nucleotide sequence NM_(—)138820 (SEQ ID NO: 6). Current function and role is unknown. Potentially encodes a multi-pass membrane protein (Strausberg et al. 2002). See Strausberg et al. Generation and initial analysis of more than 15,000 full-length human and mouse cDNA sequences. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99 (26), 16899-16903 (2002). PMID: 12477932

SSR3 (alias TRAPG, SSR gamma) is a 21080 Da protein (representative protein sequence NP_(—)009038.1 (SEQ ID NO: 9)) of 185 amino acids encoded on chromosome 3q25.31 (Ensembl cytogenetic band). Representative nucleotide sequence NM_(—)007107 (SEQ ID NO: 10). The signal sequence receptor (SSR) is a glycosylated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane receptor associated with protein translocation across the ER membrane (Wang et al. 1999). The SSR is comprised of four membrane proteins/subunits: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta (Hartmann et al. 1993). The first two are glycosylated subunits and the latter two are non-glycosylated subunits. The protein encoded by this gene is the gamma subunit and is predicted to span the membrane four times. See Wang, L. and Dobberstein, B. Oligomeric complexes involved in translocation of proteins across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. FEBS Lett. 457 (3), 316-322 (1999); and Hartmann, E., Gorlich, D., Kostka, S., Otto, A., Kraft, R., Knespel, S., Burger, E., Rapoport, T. A. and Prehn, S. A tetrameric complex of membrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Eur. J. Biochem. 214 (2), 375-381 (1993).

Nrp2 (aliases NP2, NPN2, PRO2714, MGC126574, VEGF165R2) encodes the 104831 Da, 931 amino acid protein neuropilin-2 (representative amino acid sequence NP_(—)003863; SEQ ID NO: 13) encoded on chromosome 2q33.3 (Ensembl cytogenetic band). Representative nucleotide sequence NM_(—)003872.2 (SEQ ID NO: 14). This gene encodes a member of the neuropilin family of receptor proteins (Chen et al. 1997). The encoded transmembrane protein binds to SEMA3C protein {sema domain, immunoglobulin domain (Ig), short basic domain, secreted, (semaphorin) 3C} and SEMA3F protein {sema domain, immunoglobulin domain (Ig), short basic domain, secreted, (semaphorin) 3F}, and interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein may play a role in cardiovascular development and axon guidance (Giger et al. 1998; Takahashi et al. 1998; Chen et al. 1998). Multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. See Chen, H., He, Z., Bagri, A. and Tessier-Lavigne, M, Semaphorin-neuropilin interactions underlying sympathetic axon responses to class III semaphorins, Neuron 21 (6), 1283-1290 (1998); Giger, R. J., Urquhart, E. R., Gillespie, S. K., Levengood, D. V., Ginty, D. D. and Kolodkin, A. L., Neuropilin-2 is a receptor for semaphorin IV: insight into the structural basis of receptor function and specificity, Neuron 21 (5), 1079-1092 (1998); Takahashi, T., Nakamura, F., Jin, Z., Kalb, R. G. and Strittmatter, S. M, Semaphorins A and E act as antagonists of neuropilin-1 and agonists of neuropilin-2 receptors, Nat. Neurosci. 1 (6), 487-493 (1998); and Chen, H., Chedotal, A., He, Z., Goodman, C. S. and Tessier-Lavigne, M, Neuropilin-2, a novel member of the neuropilin family, is a high affinity receptor for the semaphorins Sema E and Sema IV but not Sema III, Neuron 19 (3), 547-559 (1997).

5.3 Methods of Using Antigens

The present invention provides an methods of inducing or increasing an immune response to prostate cancer in a mammalian, preferably a human, subject. Desirably, the method effects a systemic immune response, i.e., a T-cell response and/or a B-cell response, to the cancer. In some embodiments, the method comprises administering to the patient a cellular immunotherapy composition, wherein the cellular immunotherapy composition comprises cells which are genetically modified to express a cytokine and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens. The one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens can be one or more of the antigens of the cancer found in the patient under treatment. In some embodiments, the prostate tumor-associated antigen is selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, Neuronatin (NNAT), Selenoprotein (SELS), HIG1 domain family, member 2A (HIGD2A), Signal sequence receptor, gamma (SSR3) and Neuropilin 2 (NRP2). The cells can be rendered proliferation incompetent, such as e.g., by irradiation. Upon administration of the cytokine-expressing cellular immunotherapy, an immune response to the cancer can be elicited or enhanced.

Thus, in one aspect, the method is effective to stimulate a systemic immune response in a prostate cancer patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a cellular immunotherapy composition comprising one or more populations of proliferation incompetent cells genetically modified to express a cytokine and a prostate-tumor associated antigen. The systemic immune response to the cellular immunotherapy may result in tumor regression or inhibit the growth of the tumor. In some embodiments, the prostate cancer is metastatic prostate cancer. In some embodiments, the prostate cancer is refractory to hormone therapy. In some embodiments, the primary prostate tumor has been treated, e.g., by ablation or rescission and metastases of the primary prostate cancer are treated by immunotherapy as described herein.

In another aspect, the method is effective to increase or enhance a systemic immune response in a prostate cancer patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a cellular immunotherapy composition comprising one or more populations of proliferation incompetent cells genetically modified to express a cytokine and a prostate-tumor associated antigen. The systemic immune response to the cellular immunotherapy may result in tumor regression or inhibit the growth of the tumor. In some embodiments, the prostate cancer is metastatic prostate cancer. In some embodiments, the prostate cancer is refractory to hormone therapy. In some embodiments, the primary prostate tumor has been treated, e.g., by ablation or rescission and metastases of the primary prostate cancer are treated by immunotherapy as described herein.

Typically the genetically modified cells are rendered proliferation incompetent prior to administration. In one embodiment, the mammal is a human who harbors prostate tumor cells of the same type as the genetically modified cells of the cellular immunotherapy. In a preferred embodiment, an improved therapeutic outcome is evident following administration of the genetically modified cells to the subject. Any of the various parameters of an improved therapeutic outcome for a prostate cancer patient known to those of skill in the art may be used to assess the efficacy of the cellular immunotherapy, e.g., decreased serum concentrations of tumor specific markers, increased overall survival time, increased progression-free survival, decreased tumor size, decreased bone metastasis marker response, increased impact on minimal residual disease, increased induction of antibody response to the cancer cells that have been rendered proliferation-incompetent, increased induction of delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) response to injections of autologous tumor, increased induction of T cell response to autologous tumor or candidate tumor-associated antigens, increased impact on circulating T cell and dendritic cell numbers, phenotype, and function, cytokine response, decreased concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), reduced slope of PSA doubling time, increased PSA doubling time, reduced metastasis as measured by bone scan, increased time to progression, increased survival time as compared to the Halabi nomogram, decreased serum concentrations of ICTP, or decreased concentrations of serum C-reactive protein. See Halabi et al., 2003. J Clin Oncol 21:1232-7, for a description of the Halabi nomogram.

In one approach, the cellular immunotherapy comprises a single population of cells that is modified to express a cytokine, e.g. GM-CSF, and a prostate tumor-associated antigen. In another approach, the immunotherapy comprises a combination of two or more populations of cells individually modified to express one component of the immunotherapy, e.g. a cytokine or a prostate tumor-associated antigen.

In general, a cytokine-expressing cellular immunotherapy for use in practicing the methods described herein comprises tumor cells selected from the group consisting of autologous tumor cells, allogeneic tumor cells and tumor cell lines (i.e., bystander cells). In one aspect of the invention, the cells of the cellular immunotherapy are administered to the same individual from whom they were derived (autologous). In another aspect of the invention, the cells of the cellular immunotherapy and the tumor are derived from different individuals (allogeneic or bystander).

By way of example, in one approach, the same population of cells is genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the population of genetically modified cells are autologous. In some embodiments, the population of genetically modified cells are allogeneic. In some embodiments, the population of genetically modified cells are bystander cells.

In yet another approach, two different populations of cells are genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, one of the populations of genetically modified cells are autologous. In some embodiments, one of the populations of genetically modified cells are allogeneic. In some embodiments, one of the population of genetically modified cells are bystander cells. In some embodiments of the compositions described herein, a first population of cells comprise tumor cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence or a cytokine, and a second population of cells comprise bystander cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the tumor cells are autologous cells. In some the embodiments, the tumor cells are allogeneic cells.

In certain embodiments, the methods of the invention utilize combination immunotherapies that comprise a cellular immunotherapy provided herein and one or more additional cancer therapeutic agents, e.g., agents that enhance anti-tumor immunity. Any cancer therapeutic agent known in the art may be combined with the cellular immunotherapy provided herein to induce or increase an immune response in a subject against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens.

For example, recent studies suggest that PD-L1/PD-1 interaction plays a pivotal role in the immune evasion of tumors from the host immune system (Blank et al. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 54(4):307-14 (2005)), and that blockade of PD-L1/PD-1 interaction, e.g., with an antibody which specifically binds PD-1, may serve as one possible mechanism for enhancing anti-tumor immunity. Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a composition for cancer immunotherapy comprising an anti-PD-1 antibody and one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are further modified to express the anti-PD-1 antibody. In another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for inducing or increasing an immune response in a subject against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, comprising administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising an anti-PD-1 antibody and one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are further modified to express the anti-PD-1 antibody. Methods of administering a cytokine-expressing cellular immunotherapy in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/178,122, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In addition, anti-CTLA-4 blockade together with the use of GM-CSF-modified tumor cell vaccines has been shown to be effective in a number of experimental tumor models, such as mammary carcinoma (Hurwitz et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 95(17):10067-71 (1998)), primary prostate cancer (Hurwitz A. et al. (2000) Cancer Research 60 (9): 2444-8) and melanoma (van Elsas, A et al. (1999) J. Exp. Med. 190: 355-66). Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a composition for cancer immunotherapy comprising an anti-CTLA-4 antibody and one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are further modified to express the anti-CTLA-4 antibody. In another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for inducing or increasing an immune response in a subject against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, comprising administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising an anti-CTLA-4 antibody and one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are further modified to express the anti-CTLA-4 antibody.

Additional cancer therapeutic agents that find use in combination with the cellular immunotherapies described herein include tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Administration of a cytokine-expressing cancer immunotherapy composition in combination with at least one tyrosine kinase inhibitor results in enhanced immunotherapeutic potency, i.e., an increase in the number and/or proliferation of activated T-cells, relative to administration of either the cytokine-expressing cancer immunotherapy composition or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor alone. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0231298, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a composition for cancer immunotherapy comprising a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of gefitimib, erolotinib and imatinib. In another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for inducing or increasing an immune response in a subject against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, comprising administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of gefitimib, erolotinib and imatinib. Methods of administering a cytokine-expressing cellular immunotherapy in combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0231298, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

5.4 Immunogenic Compositions Comprising Cells Expressing a Cytokine and One or More Prostate Tumor-Associated Antigens

5.4.1. Introduction of Cytokine and Prostate Tumor-Associated Antigen into Cells

In one aspect of the invention, a nucleic acid sequence (i.e., a recombinant DNA construct or vector) encoding a cytokine or a tumor antigen operably linked to a promoter is introduced into a cell or population of cells. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence may encode both a cytokine and a tumor antigen, each operably linked to a promoter yet independently transcribed from the same nucleic acid sequence. In other embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence may encode more than one tumor antigen, each operably linked to a promoter yet independently transcribed from the same nucleic acid sequence. In yet other embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence may encode both a cytokine and a tumor antigen, or more than one tumor antigen, from the same promoter by utilizing an expression vector that is capable of producing polycistronic or mRNA. Within these embodiments, certain internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequences may be utilized to allow for expression of a polycistronic message comprising the coding sequence for a cytokine and a tumor antigen, or one or more tumor antigens. Preferred IRES elements include, but are not limited to the mammalian BiP IRES and the hepatitis C virus IRES.

Any and all methods of introduction into a cell or population of cells, typically tumor cells, are contemplated according to the invention. The method is not dependent on any particular means of introduction and is not to be so construed.

The “vector” may be a DNA molecule such as a plasmid, virus or other vehicle, which contains one or more heterologous or recombinant DNA sequences, e.g., a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine and/or a tumor antigen under the control of a functional promoter and in some cases further including an enhancer that is capable of functioning as a vector, as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. An appropriate viral vector includes, but is not limited to, a retrovirus, a lentivirus, an adenovirus (AV), an adeno-associated virus (AAV), a simian virus 40 (SV-40), a bovine papilloma virus, an Epstein-Barr virus, a herpes virus, a vaccinia virus, a Moloney murine leukemia virus, a Harvey murine sarcoma virus, a murine mammary tumor virus, and a Rous sarcoma virus. Non-viral vectors are also included within the scope of the invention.

Any suitable vector can be employed that is appropriate for introduction of nucleic acids into eukaryotic tumor cells, or more particularly animal tumor cells, such as mammalian, e.g., human, tumor cells. Preferably the vector is compatible with the tumor cell, e.g., is capable of imparting expression of the coding sequence for a cytokine and/or tumor antigen and is stably maintained or relatively stably maintained in the tumor cell. Desirably, the vector comprises an origin of replication and the vector may or may not also comprise a “marker” or “selectable marker” function by which the vector can be identified and selected. While any selectable marker can be used, selectable markers for use in such expression vectors are generally known in the art and the choice of the proper selectable marker will depend on the host cell. Examples of selectable marker genes which encode proteins that confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins include ampiciilin, methotrexate, tetracycline, neomycin (Southern and Berg, J., 1982), myco-phenolic acid (Mulligan and Berg, 1980), puromycin, zeo-mycin, hygromycin (Sugden et al., 1985) or G418.

In practicing the methods of the present invention, a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine and/or a tumor antigen may be transferred to a cell in vitro, preferably a tumor cell, using any of a number of methods which include but are not limited to electroporation, membrane fusion with liposomes, Lipofectamine treatment, high velocity bombardment with DNA-coated microprojectiles, incubation with calcium phosphate-DNA precipitate, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, infection with modified viral nucleic acids, direct microinjection into single cells, etc. Procedures for the cloning and expression of modified forms of a native protein using recombinant DNA technology are generally known in the art, as described in Ausubel, et al., 2007 and Sambrook, et al., 2002, expressly incorporated by reference, herein.

Reference to a vector or other DNA sequence as “recombinant” merely acknowledges the operable linkage of DNA sequences which are not typically operably linked as isolated from or found in nature. A “promoter” is a DNA sequence that directs the binding of RNA polymerase and thereby promotes RNA synthesis. “Enhancers” are cis-acting elements that stimulate or inhibit transcription of adjacent genes. An enhancer that inhibits transcription also is termed a “silencer.” Enhancers can function (i.e. be operably linked to a coding sequence) in either orientation, over distances of up to several kilobase pairs (kb) from the coding sequence and from a position downstream of a transcribed region. Regulatory (expression/control) sequences are operatively linked to a nucleic acid coding sequence when the expression/control sequences regulate the transcription and, as appropriate, translation of the nucleic acid sequence. Thus, expression/control sequences can include promoters, enhancers, transcription terminators, a start codon (i.e., ATG) in front of the coding sequence, a splicing signal for introns, and stop codons.

Recombinant vectors for the production of cellular immunotherapies of the invention provide the proper transcription, translation and processing signals (e.g., splicing and polyadenylation signals) such that the coding sequence for the cytokine and/or tumor antigen is appropriately transcribed and translated in the tumor cells into which the vector is introduced. The manipulation of such signals to ensure appropriate expression in host cells is within the skill of the ordinary skilled artisan. The coding sequence for the cytokine and/or the tumor antigen may be under the control of (i.e., operably linked to) its own native promoter, or a non-native (e.g. heterologous) promoter, including a constitutive promoter, e.g., the cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early promoter/enhancer, the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV-LTR) or the SV-40 promoter.

Alternately, a tissue-specific promoter (a promoter that is preferentially activated in a particular type of tissue and results in expression of a gene product in that tissue) can be used in the vector. Such promoters include but are not limited to a liver specific promoter (Ill C R, et al., Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 8 Suppl 2:S23-30, 1997) and the EF-1 alpha promoter (Kim D W et al. Gene. 91(2):217-23, 1990, Guo Z S et al. Gene Ther. 3(9):802-10, 1996; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,266,491 and 5,225,348, each of which expressly incorporated by reference herein). Inducible promoters also find utility in practicing the methods described herein, such as a promoter containing the tet responsive element (TRE) in the tet-on or tet-off system as described (ClonTech and BASF), the metallothienein promoter which can be upregulated by addition of certain metal salts and rapamycin inducible promoters (Rivera et al., 1996, Nature Med, 2(9): 1028-1032; Ye et al., 2000, Science 283: 88-91; Sawyer T K et al., 2002, Mini Rev Med. Chem. 2(5):475-88). Large numbers of suitable tissue-specific or regulatable vectors and promoters for use in practicing the current invention are known to those of skill in the art and many are commercially available.

Exemplary vector systems for use in practicing the invention include the retroviral MFG vector, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,483, expressly incorporated by reference herein. Other useful retroviral vectors include pLJ, pEm and [alpha]SGC, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,483 (in particular Example 12), U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,506,604, 5,955,331 and U.S. Ser. No. 09/612,808, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Further exemplary vector systems for use in practicing the invention include second, third and fourth generation lentiviral vectors, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,428,953, 5,665,577 and 5,981,276 and WO 00/72686, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Additional exemplary vector systems for use in practicing the present invention include adenoviral vectors, described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,005 and International Patent Publication No. WO 00/72686, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Yet another vector system that is preferred in practicing the methods described herein is a recombinant adeno-associated vector (rAAV) system, described for example in International Patent Publication Nos. WO 98/46728 and WO 00/72686, Samulski et al., Virol. 63:3822-3828 (1989) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,436,146, 5,753,500, 6,037,177, 6,040,183 and 6,093,570, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one preferred embodiment, one or more viral or nonviral vectors are utilized to deliver a cytokine, e.g., human GM-CSF transgene (coding sequence), and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigen (coding sequence) to a human tumor cell ex vivo. After transduction, the cells are irradiated to render them proliferation incompetent. The proliferation incompetent cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF and tumor antigen expressing tumor cells are then re-administered to the patient (e.g., by the intradermal or subcutaneous route) and thereby function as a cancer vaccine. The human tumor cell may be a primary tumor cell or derived from a tumor cell line.

In general, the genetically modified tumor cells include one or more of autologous tumor cells, allogeneic tumor cells and tumor cell lines (i.e., bystander cells). The tumor cells may be transduced in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. Autologous and allogeneic cancer cells that have been genetically modified to express a cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF, followed by readministration to a patient for the treatment of cancer are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,637,483, 5,904,920 and 6,350,445, expressly incorporated by reference herein. A form of GM-CSF-expressing genetically modified tumor cells or a “cytokine-expressing cellular vaccine” (“GVAX”®), for the treatment of pancreatic cancer is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,033,674 and 5,985,290, expressly incorporated by reference herein. A universal immunomodulatory genetically modified bystander cell line is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,973, expressly incorporated by reference herein.

An allogeneic form of GVAX® wherein the cellular vaccine comprises one or more prostate tumor cell lines selected from the group consisting of DU145, PC-3, and LNCaP is described in WO/0026676, expressly incorporated by reference herein. LNCaP is a PSA-producing prostate tumor cell line, while PC-3 and DU-145 are non-PSA-producing prostate tumor cell lines (Pang S. et al., Hum Gene Ther. 1995 November; 6(11):1417-1426).

Clinical trials employing GM-CSF-expressing cellular vaccines (GVAX®) have been undertaken for treatment of prostate cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, and multiple myeloma. A number of clinical trials using GVAX® cellular vaccines have been described, most notably in melanoma, and prostate, renal and pancreatic carcinoma (Simons J W et al. Cancer Res. 1999; 59:5160-5168; Simons J W et al. Cancer Res 1997; 57:1537-1546; Soiffer R et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1998; 95:13141-13146; Jaffee, et al. J Clin Oncol 2001; 19:145-156; Salgia et al. J Clin Oncol 2003 21:624-30; Soiffer et al. J Clin Oncol 2003 21:3343-50; Nemunaitis et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Feb. 18 96(4):326-31).

By way of example, in one approach, one or more prostate tumor-associated tumor antigens described herein are expressed by an allogeneic or bystander cell line while a cytokine (e.g., GM-CSF) is expressed by autologous or allogeneic cells. The GM-CSF coding sequence is introduced into the tumor cells using a viral or non-viral vector and routine methods commonly employed by those of skill in the art. The preferred coding sequence for GM-CSF is the genomic sequence described in Huebner K. et al., Science 230(4731):1282-5, 1985, however, in some cases the cDNA form of GM-CSF finds utility in practicing the methods (Cantrell et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 82, 6250-6254, 1985).

In one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method of making a cellular immunotherapy composition, comprising obtaining one or more population of cells and modifying the one or more population of cells by introducing into the cells: (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine operably linked to a promoter; (ii) one or more nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a prostate tumor-associated antigen selected from the group consisting HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2; and (iii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a selectable marker operably linked to a promoter. In a particular embodiment, the cytokine is GM-CSF. The nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine operably linked to a promoter, and the one or more nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, can be any nucleic acid molecule suitable for gene transfer as described above. While any selectable marker can be used, in particular embodiments, the selectable marker is an antibiotic resistance gene, such as hygromycin resistance. In some embodiments, a genetically modified mammalian, preferably human cell line is cultured in culture medium comprising at least 400 μg hygromycin/ml culture medium.

5.4.2. Administration

The genetically modified tumor cells can be cryopreserved prior to administration. Preferably, the genetically modified tumor cells are irradiated at a dose of from about 50 to about 200 rads/min, even more preferably, from about 120 to about 140 rads/min prior to administration to the patient. Preferably, the cells are irradiated with a total dose sufficient to inhibit substantially 100% of the cells from further proliferation. Thus, desirably the cells are irradiated with a total dose of from about 10,000 to 20,000 rads, optimally, with about 15,000 rads. Typically more than one administration of cytokine (e.g., GM-CSF) and prostate tumor-associated antigen producing cells is delivered to the subject in a course of treatment. Dependent upon the particular course of treatment, multiple injections may be given at a single time point with the treatment repeated at various time intervals. For example, an initial or “priming” treatment may be followed by one or more “booster” treatments. Such “priming” and “booster” treatments are typically delivered by the same route of administration and/or at about the same site. When multiple doses are administered, the first immunization dose may be higher than subsequent immunization doses. For example, a 5×10⁶ prime dose may be followed by several booster doses of 10⁶ to 3×10⁶ GM-CSF and tumor antigen producing cells.

A single injection of cytokine and tumor antigen producing cells is typically between about 10⁶ to 10⁸ cells, e.g., 1×10⁶, 2×10⁶, 3×10⁶, 4×10⁶, 5×10⁶, 6×10⁶, 7×10⁶, 8×10⁶, 9×10⁶, 10⁷, 2×10⁷, 5×10⁷, or as many as 10⁸ cells. In one embodiment, there are between 10⁶ and 10⁸ cytokine-producing cells per unit dose. The number of cytokine and tumor antigen producing cells may be adjusted according, for example, to the level of cytokine and/or tumor antigen produced by a given cellular immunotherapy composition.

In some embodiments, cytokine-producing cells of the cellular immunotherapy are administered in a dose that is capable of producing at least 500 ng of GM-CSF per 24 hours per one million cells. In some embodiments, prostate tumor associated-tumor antigen-producing cells of the cellular immunotherapy are administered in a dose that is capable of producing at least 500 ng of the particular tumor antigen per 24 hours per one million cells. Determination of optimal cell dosage and ratios is a matter of routine determination and within the skill of a practitioner of ordinary skill, in light of the disclosure provided herein.

In treating a prostate cancer patient according to the methods described herein, the attending physician may administer lower doses of the cellular immunotherapy composition and observe the patient's response. Larger doses of the cellular immunotherapy may be administered until the an improved therapeutic outcome is evident.

Cytokine and tumor antigen expressing cells of the cellular immunotherapy of the invention are processed to remove most additional components used in preparing the cells. In particular, fetal calf serum, bovine serum components, or other biological supplements in the culture medium are removed. In one embodiment, the cells are washed, such as by repeated gentle centrifugation, into a suitable pharmacologically compatible excipient. Compatible excipients include various cell culture media, isotonic saline, with or without a physiologically compatible buffer, for example, phosphate or hepes, and nutrients such as dextrose, physiologically compatible ions, or amino acids, particularly those devoid of other immunogenic components.

A compositon for administration in vivo can comprise appropriate carriers or diluents, which further can be pharmaceutically acceptable. For example, carrying reagents, such as albumin and blood plasma fractions and inactive thickening agents, may be used. The means of making such a composition have been described in the art. See, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 19th edition, Genarro, A. Ed. (1995).

In pharmaceutical dosage form, the cellular immunotherapy composition described herein can be used alone or in appropriate association, as well as in combination, with other pharmaceutically active compounds as are known in the art.

5.4.3. Autologous Cells

The use of autologous genetically modified cells expressing a cytokine, e.g. GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated tumor antigens provides advantages since each patient's tumor expresses a unique set of tumor antigens that can differ from those found on histologically-similar, MHC-matched tumor cells from another patient. See, e.g., Kawakami et al., J. Immunol., 148, 638-643 (1992); Darrow et al., J. Immunol., 142, 3329-3335 (1989); and Hom et al., J. Immunother., 10, 153-164 (1991). In contrast, MHC-matched tumor cells provide the advantage that the patient need not be taken to surgery to obtain a sample of their tumor for genetically modified tumor cell production.

In one preferred aspect, the method of treating prostate cancer comprises: (a) obtaining tumor cells from a mammalian subject harboring a prostate tumor; (b) genetically modifying the tumor cells to render them capable of producing an increased level of GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens relative to unmodified tumor cells; (c) rendering the modified tumor cells proliferation incompetent; and (d) readministering the genetically modified tumor cells to the mammalian subject from which the tumor cells were obtained or to a mammal with the same MHC type as the mammal from which the tumor cells were obtained. The administered tumor cells are autologous and MHC-matched to the host. Preferably, the composition is administered intradermally, subcutaneously or intratumorally to the mammalian subject.

In some cases, a single autologous tumor cell may express GM-CSF alone or GM-CSF plus one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens. In other cases, GM-CSF and the one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens may be expressed by different autologous tumor cells. In one aspect of the invention, an autologous tumor cell is modified by introduction of a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding GM-CSF, operatively linked to a promoter and expression/control sequences necessary for expression thereof. In another aspect, the same autologous tumor cell or a second autologous tumor cell can be modified by introduction of a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens operatively linked to a promoter and expression/control sequences necessary for expression thereof. The nucleic acid sequence encoding the one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens can be introduced into the same or a different autologous tumor cell using the same or a different vector. The nucleic acid sequence encoding the one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens may or may not further comprise a selectable marker sequence operatively linked to a promoter. Desirably, the autologous tumor cell expresses high levels of GM-CSF and/or the one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens.

5.4.4. Allogeneic Cells

Researchers have sought alternatives to autologous and MHC-matched cells as tumor vaccines, as reviewed by Jaffee et al., Seminars in Oncology, 22, 81-91 (1995). Early tumor vaccine strategies were based on the understanding that the vaccinating cells function as the antigen presenting cells (APCs) that present tumor antigens on their MHC class I and II molecules, and directly activate the T cell arm of the immune system. The results of Huang et al. (Science, 264, 961-965, 1994), indicate that professional APCs of the host rather than the vaccinating cells prime the T cell arm of the immune system by secreting cytokine(s) such as GM-CSF such that bone marrow-derived APCs are recruited to the region of the tumor. The bone marrow-derived APCs take up the whole cellular protein of the tumor for processing, and then present the antigenic peptide(s) on their MHC class I and II molecules, thereby priming both the CD4+ and the CD8+ T cell arms of the immune system, resulting in a systemic tumor-specific anti-tumor immune response. Without being bound by theory, these results suggest that it may not be necessary or optimal to use autologous or MHC-matched cells in order to elicit an anti-cancer immune response and that the transfer of allogeneic MHC genes (from a genetically dissimilar individual of the same species) can enhance tumor immunogenicity. More specifically, in certain cases, the rejection of tumors expressing allogeneic MHC class 1 molecules has resulted in enhanced systemic immune responses against subsequent challenge with the unmodified parental tumor. See, e.g., Jaffee et al., supra, and Huang et al., supra.

As used herein, a “tumor cell line” comprises cells that were initially derived from a tumor. Such cells typically exhibit indefinite growth in culture. In one aspect, the method for treating prostate cancer comprises: (a) obtaining a tumor cell line; (b) genetically modifying the tumor cell line to render the cells capable of producing an increased level of a cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF, and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens relative to the unmodified tumor cell line; (c) rendering the modified tumor cell line proliferation incompetent; and (d) administering the tumor cell line to a mammalian subject (host) having at least one tumor that is of the same type of tumor as that from which the tumor cell line was obtained. In some embodiments, the administered tumor cell line is allogeneic and is not MHC-matched to the host. Such allogeneic lines provide the advantage that they can be prepared in advance, characterized, aliquoted in vials containing known numbers of transgene (e.g., GM-CSF) expressing cells and stored (i.e. frozen) such that well characterized cells are available for administration to the patient. Methods for the production of genetically modified allogeneic cells are described for example in WO 00/72686, expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one approach to preparing genetically modified allogeneic cells, a nucleic acid sequence (transgene) encoding GM-CSF alone or in combination with the nucleic acid coding sequence for one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens is introduced into a cell line that is an allogeneic tumor cell line (i.e., derived from an individual other than the individual being treated). In another approach, a nucleic acid sequence (transgene) encoding GM-CSF alone or in combination with the nucleic acid coding sequence for one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens is introduced into separate allogeneic tumor cell lines. In yet another approach two or more different genetically modified allogeneic cell lines (e.g. LNCAP and PC-3) expressing GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens are administered in combination, typically at a ratio of 1:1. In general, the cell or population of cells is from a tumor cell line of the same type as the tumor or cancer being treated, e.g. prostate cancer. The nucleic acid sequence encoding the prostate tumor-associated antigens may be introduced into the same or a different allogeneic tumor cell using the same or a different vector. The nucleic acid sequence encoding the prostate tumor-associated antigens (s) may or may not further comprise a selectable marker sequence operatively linked to a promoter. Desirably, the allogeneic cell line expresses high levels of GM-C SF and/or the one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens.

In another aspect, one or more genetically modified GM-CSF expressing allogeneic cell lines can be exposed to an antigen, e.g. a prostate tumor-associated antigen, such that the patient's immune response to the antigen is increased in the presence of GM-CSF, e.g., an allogeneic or bystander cell that has been genetically modified to express GM-CSF. Such exposure may take place ex vivo or in vivo. In one preferred embodiment, the antigen is a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence obtained from HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 or NRP2, as described extensively above. In such cases, the composition can be rendered proliferation-incompetent, typically by irradiation, wherein the allogeneic cells are plated in a tissue culture plate and irradiated at room temperature using a Cs source, as further described herein. An allogeneic cellular vaccine composition of the invention may comprise allogeneic cells plus other cells, i.e. a different type of allogeneic cell, an autologous cell, or a bystander cell that may or may not be genetically modified. If genetically modified, the different type of allogeneic cell, autologous cell, or bystander cell may express GM-CSF and/or one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens. The ratio of allogeneic cells to other cells in a given administration will vary dependent upon the combination.

Any suitable route of administration can be used to introduce an allogeneic cell line composition into the patient, preferably, the composition is administered intradermally, subcutaneously or intratumorally.

5.4.5. Bystander Cells

In one further aspect, a universal immunomodulatory genetically modified transgene-expressing bystander cell that expresses at least one transgene, e.g. a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine, e.g. GM-CSF, or a prostate tumor-associated antigen, can be used in the immunotherapies described herein. The same universal bystander cell line may express more than one transgene or individual transgenes may be expressed by different universal bystander cell lines. The universal bystander cell line comprises cells which either naturally lack major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) antigens and major histocompatibility class II (MHC-II) antigens or have been modified so that they lack MHC-I antigens and MHC-II antigens. In one aspect, a universal bystander cell line can be modified by introduction of a vector wherein the vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a transgene, e.g., a cytokine such as GM-CSF, and/or one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, operably linked to a promoter and expression control sequences necessary for expression thereof. In another aspect, the same universal bystander cell line or a second a universal bystander cell line is modified by introduction of a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one additional transgene, e.g., a cytokine such as GM-CSF, and/or one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, operatively linked to a promoter and expression control sequences necessary for expression thereof. The nucleic acid sequence encoding the transgene(s) may be introduced into the same or a different universal bystander cell line using the same or a different vector. The nucleic acid sequence encoding the transgene(s) may or may not further comprise a selectable marker sequence operatively linked to a promoter. Any combination of transgene(s) that stimulate an anti-tumor immune response can be used. The universal bystander cell line preferably grows in defined, i.e., serum-free medium, preferably as a suspension.

An example of a preferred universal bystander cell line is K562 (ATCC CCL-243; Lozzio et al., Blood 45(3): 321-334 (1975); Klein et al., Int. J. Cancer 18: 421-431 (1976)). A detailed description of the generation of human bystander cell lines is described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,973, expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Desirably, the universal bystander cell line expresses high levels of the transgene, e.g. a cytokine such as GM-CSF and/or one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens.

In the methods provided herein, the one or more universal bystander cell lines can be incubated with an autologous cancer antigen, e.g., provided by an autologous tumor cell (which together comprise a universal bystander cell line composition), then the universal bystander cell line composition can be administered to the patient. Any suitable route of administration can be used to introduce a universal bystander cell line composition into the patient. Preferably, the composition is administered intradermally, subcutaneously or intratumorally.

Typically, the autologous cancer antigen can be provided by a cell of the cancer to be treated, i.e., an autologous cancer cell. In such cases, the composition is rendered proliferation-incompetent by irradiation, wherein the bystander cells and cancer cells are plated in a tissue culture plate and irradiated at room temperature using a Cs source, as detailed above.

The ratio of bystander cells to autologous cancer cells in a given administration will vary dependent upon the combination. With respect to GM-CSF-producing bystander cells, the ratio of bystander cells to autologous cancer cells in a given administration should be such that a therapeutically effective level of GM-CSF is produced. In addition to the GM-CSF threshold, the ratio of bystander cells to autologous cancer cells should not be greater than 1:1. Appropriate ratios of bystander cells to tumor cells or tumor antigens can be determined using routine methods known in the art.

Typically a minimum dose of about 3500 rads is sufficient to inactivate a cell and render it proliferation-incompetent, although doses up to about 30,000 rads are acceptable. In some embodiments, the cells are irradiated at a dose of from about 50 to about 200 rads/min or from about 120 to about 140 rads/min prior to administration to the mammal. Typically, when using irradiation, the levels required are 2,500 rads, 5,000 rads, 10,000 rads, 15,000 rads or 20,000 rads. In one embodiment, a dose of about 10,000 rads is used to inactivate a cell and render it proliferation-incompetent. It is understood that irradiation is but one way to render cells proliferation-incompetent, and that other methods of inactivation which result in cells incapable of multiple rounds of cell division but that retain the ability to express transgenes (e.g. cytokines and/or tumor antigens) are included in the present invention (e.g., treatment with mitomycin C, cycloheximide, and conceptually analogous agents, or incorporation of a suicide gene by the cell).

5.4.6. Cytokines

A “cytokine” or grammatical equivalent, includes, without limitation, those hormones that act locally and do not circulate in the blood, and which, when used in accordance with the present invention, will result in an alteration of an individual's immune response. Also included in the definition of cytokine are adhesion or accessory molecules which result in an alteration of an individual's immune response. Thus, examples of cytokines include, but are not limited to, interferon alpha (IFN-α), interferon beta (IFN-β), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β), erythropoietin (EPO), MIP3A, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), LIF, LT, TGF-P, a-EFN, P-IFN, BCGF, and CD2. Descriptions of the aforementioned cytokines as well as other applicable immunomodulatory agents may be found in “Cytokines and Cytokine Receptors,” A. S. Hamblin, D. Male (ed.), Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y. (1993)), or the “Guidebook to Cytokines and Their Receptors,” N. A. Nicola (ed.), Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y. (1995)). Where therapeutic use in humans is contemplated, the cytokines will preferably be substantially similar to the human form of the protein or will have been derived from human sequences (i.e., of human origin). In one preferred embodiment, the cytokine of the cellular immunotherapy described herein is GM-CSF.

Additionally, cytokines of other mammals with substantial structural homology and/or amino acid sequence identity to the human forms of a given cytokine, will be useful when demonstrated to exhibit similar activity on the human immune system. Similarly, proteins that are substantially analogous to any particular cytokine, but have conservative changes of protein sequence, can also be used. Thus, conservative substitutions in protein sequence may be possible without disturbing the functional abilities of the protein molecule, and thus proteins can be made that function as cytokines in the present invention but have amino acid sequences that differ slightly from currently known sequences. Such conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine; aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; lysine, arginine; and phenylalanine, tyrosine.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine produced by fibroblasts, endothelial cells, T cells and macrophages. This cytokine has been shown to induce the growth of hematopoetic cells of granulocyte and macrophage lineages. In addition, it also activates the antigen processing and presenting function of dendritic cells, which are the major antigen presenting cells (APC) of the immune system. Results from animal model experiments have convincingly shown that GM-CSF producing cells are able to induce an immune response against parental, non-transduced cells.

GM-CSF augments the antigen presentation capability of the subclass of dendritic cells (DC) capable of stimulating robust anti-tumor responses (Gasson et al. Blood 1991 Mar. 15; 77(6):1131-45; Mach et al. Cancer Res. 2000 Jun. 15; 60(12):3239-46; reviewed in Mach and Dranoff, Curr Opin Immunol. 2000 October; 12(5):571-5). See, e.g., Boon and Old, Curr Opin Immunol. 1997 Oct. 1; 9(5):681-3). Presentation of tumor antigen epitopes to T cells in the draining lymph nodes is expected to result in systemic immune responses to tumor metastases. Also, irradiated tumor cells expressing GM-CSF have been shown to function as potent vaccines against tumor challenge. Localized high concentrations of certain cytokines, delivered by genetically modified cells, have been found to lead to tumor regression (Abe et al., J. Canc. Res. Clin. Oncol. 121: 587-592 (1995); Gansbacher et al., Cancer Res. 50: 7820-7825 (1990); Formi et al., Cancer and Met. Reviews 7: 289-309 (1988). PCT publication WO200072686 describes tumor cells expressing various cytokines.

In one embodiment, the cellular immunogenic composition comprises a GM-CSF coding sequence operatively linked to regulatory elements for expression in the cells of the vaccine. The GM-CSF coding sequence may code for a murine or human GM-CSF and may be in the form of genomic DNA (SEQ ID NO: 15; disclosed as SEQ ID NO: NO.:1 in US Patent Publication NO. 2006/0057127, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) or cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 16; disclosed as SEQ ID NO: NO.:2 in US Patent Publication NO. 2006/0057127, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In the case of cDNA, the coding sequence for GM-CSF does not contain intronic sequences to be spliced out prior to translation. In contrast, for genomic GM-CSF, the coding sequence contains at least one native GM-CSF intron that is spliced out prior to translation. In one embodiment, the GM-CSF coding sequence encodes the amino acid sequence presented as SEQ ID NO.: 17 (disclosed as SEQ ID NO.:3 in US Patent Publication NO. 2006/0057127, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Other examples of GM-CSF coding sequences are found in Genbank accession numbers: AF373868, AC034228, AC034216, M 10663 and NM000758.

A GM-CSF coding sequence can be a full-length complement that hybridizes to the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:15 or SEQ ID NO:16 under stringent conditions. The phrase “hybridizing to” refers to the binding, duplexing, or hybridizing of a molecule to a particular nucleotide sequence under stringent conditions when that sequence is present in a complex mixture (e.g., total cellular) DNA or RNA. “Bind(s) substantially” refers to complementary hybridization between a probe nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid and embraces minor mismatches that can be accommodated by reducing the stringency of the hybridization media to achieve the desired detection of the target nucleic acid sequence.

It therefore follows that the coding sequence for a cytokine such as GM-CSF, can have at least 80, 85, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more % identity over its entire length to a native GM-CSF coding sequence. For example, a GM-CSF coding sequence can have at least 80, 85, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more sequence identity to a sequence presented as SEQ ID NO: NO:15 or SEQ ID NO: NO:16, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured a sequence comparison algorithm (as described above) or by visual inspection. In one embodiment, the given % sequence identity exists over a region of the sequences that is at least about 50 nucleotides in length. In another embodiment, the given % sequence identity exists over a region of at least about 100 nucleotides in length. In another embodiment, the given % sequence identity exists over a region of at least about 200 nucleotides in length. In another embodiment, the given % sequence identity exists over the entire length of the sequence. Preferably, the GM-CSF has authentic GM-CSF activity, e.g., can bind the GM-C SF receptor.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence for a cytokine such as GM-CSF has at least 80, 85, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence presented as SEQ ID NO: NO:17, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence.

5.4.7. Kits

The cellular immunotherapy compositions provided herein can be included in a kit, container, pack, or dispenser together with instructions for administration. When the composition is supplied as a kit, the different components of the composition may be packaged in separate containers so as to permit long-term storage without losing the active components' functions. The reagents included in the kits can be supplied in containers of any sort such that the life of the different components are preserved, and are not adsorbed or altered by the materials of the container. For example, cytokine-expressing and/or prostate tumor-associated antigen expressing cells may be housed in containers such as test tubes, vials, flasks, bottles, syringes, or the like. Containers may have a sterile access port, such as a bottle having a stopper that can be pierced by a hypodermic injection needle. Other containers may have two compartments that are separated by a readily removable membrane that upon removal permits the components to mix. Removable membranes may be glass, plastic, rubber, etc.

Kits may also be supplied with instructional materials. Instructions may be printed on paper or other substrate, and/or may be supplied as an electronic-readable medium, such as a floppy disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip disc, videotape, audio tape, etc. Detailed instructions may not be physically associated with the kit; instead, a user may be directed to an interne web site specified by the manufacturer or distributor of the kit, or supplied as electronic mail.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a composition comprising a population of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are autologous. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are allogeneic. In some embodiments, the genetically modified cells are bystander cells.

In another embodiment, the kit comprises a first composition comprising a population of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for a cytokine; and a second composition comprising a population of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2. In some embodiments, the first composition comprises a population of tumor cells and the second population comprises a population of bystander cells. In some embodiments, the tumor cells are autologous. In some embodiments, the tumor cells are allogeneic.

6. EXAMPLES

The present invention is described by reference to the following Examples, which are offered by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. Standard techniques well known in the art or the techniques specifically described below are utilized. It will be appreciated that the methods and compositions of the instant invention can be incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only a few of which are disclosed herein. It will be apparent to the artisan that other embodiments exist and do not depart from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the described embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as restrictive.

Exemplary methods for producing recombinant viral vectors useful for making genetically altered tumor cells that express GM-CSF, methods for using the genetically altered tumor cells that express GM-CSF in cancer therapies, particularly prostate cancer therapies, are extensively described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0057127, incorporated by reference in its entirety, and will not be reproduced below. One such therapy that has been and is being evaluated in clinical trials for treatment of prostate cancer is GVAX® therapy.

6.1 Example 1 Identification of Protein Targets of Host Antibody Responses Following Cell-Based Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy

This example describes identification of protein targets of host antibody responses following allogeneic cancer immunotherapy cells genetically modified to express GM-CSF.

Patients [n=19] treated with high-dose cell-based cancer immunotherapy (e.g., 500 million cells followed by 300 million cells every two weeks) demonstrate an increase in median survival time (MST). The median survival has not yet been reached for this high dose group, and the final median survival will be no less than 29.1 months based on the current median follow-up time for these patients. In addition, there was also a statistically significant increased antibody response to the cell-based cancer immunotherapy in the high dose group with detectable antibodies directed against antigens derived from the immunotherapy as determined by western blot analysis using patient sera harvested post-immunization.

Humoral patient immune responses to a cell-based prostate cancer immunotherapy have been evaluated to specifically identify which antigens may be specifically recognized by the patients' immune system following the therapy. Two differing methods have been used to characterize this response using patients' sera: i) serological analysis of gene expression libraries (SEREX) and ii) defined prostate cancer antigen screening. From these two techniques, multiple antibody responses to proteins derived from the immunotherapy have been identified that are specifically induced or augmented following immunization.

6.1.1. Serological Analysis of Gene Expression Libraries (SEREX)

SEREX allows the systematic cloning of tumor antigens recognized by the autoantibody repertoire of cancer patients (Sahin et al. 1995; McNeel et al. 2000; Wang et al. 2005; Dunphy et al. 2005; Qin et al. 2006). cDNA expression libraries were constructed from the tumor cell lines used to comprise the GVAX® immunotherapy (PC-3 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines modified to secrete GM-CSF), packaged into lambda-phage vectors, and expressed recombinantly in E. Coli. Recombinant proteins expressed during the lytic infection of bacteria were then blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes and probed with diluted patient serum for identification of clones reactive with high-titered IgG antibodies.

This procedure was carried out for 8 patients treated with cell-based prostate cancer immunotherapy. These patients were prioritized for SEREX analysis based upon survival advantage. Survival advantage was determined by comparing individual patient survival time to a patient's predicted survival. Predicted survival was calculated using a published, validated nomogram based on seven prognostic variables including PSA, ECOG performance status, Gleason score sum, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, LDH and presence/absence of visceral metastatic disease (Halabi, et al. 2003). From the SEREX analysis of these 8 patients, multiple LNCaP/PC-3 derived cell protein clones reactive to the patient sera post-immunotherapy were identified. Positive hits for the SEREX screen were then screened against pre-immunotherapy serum to determine if the antibody response to these proteins was augmented or induced following the immunotherapy.

For example, from patient 1, 24 proteins from an original list of 92 individual proteins (26%) have antibody responses that were induced upon GVAX® immunotherapy. The remainder of the responses (68 proteins) did not demonstrate an increase in titer. For patient 2, 18 individual proteins from a total of 47 (38%) had induced antibody titers following immunotherapy. For patient 3, 14/38 (37%) of antibody responses were induced following immunotherapy. Table 1, below, provides a compiled list of induced antibody hits (143 proteins total) for all 8 patients screened by SEREX.

TABLE 1 Hit pulled out Plugs Came using what From Which post serum? X# Lib? Gene Patient 1 X1 L, L, L ACAT2 (acetyl-Coenzyme A acetyltransferase 2) X2 P, P ACAA1 X3 P cDNA FLJ41756 fis X4 gP cDNA: FLJ22465 fis X5 P, P chromosome 20 open reading frame 43 X6 P exosome component 5 (EXOSC5) X7 P, gP, gP Huntingtin interacting protein K (HYPK) X8 P keratin 10 (KRT10) X9 gP, gP Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1) X10 gP mitochondrial ribosomal protein L32 X11 L, L M-phase phosphoprotein 10 (MPHOSPH10) X12 gP, P RAP1 interacting factor homolog (yeast) (RIF1) X13 gP Restin (RSN) X14 P RNA binding motif protein 4 (RBM4) X15 gP, P, P S100 calcium binding protein A2 (S100A2) X16 L selenium binding protein 1 (SELENBP1) X17 gP, gP SVH protein (SVH) X18 gP, L translocated promoter region (to activated MET oncogene) X19 gP BRCC1 (BRCC1) X20 gP nucleophosmin (NPM1) X21 gP COP9 constitutive photomorphogenic homolog subunit 3 X22 P, P kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) X23 L zinc finger protein 24 (KOX 17) (ZNF24) X24 P, L golgi autoantigen macrogolgin (with transmembrane signal) (GOLGB1) Patient 2 X25 P, P, P HLA X26 P 18S rRNA gene X27 P, P, P Bcl-XL-binding protein v68 (MGC5352) X28 P, P Cullin-associated and neddylation-dissociated 1 (CAND1) X29 P heat shock 60 kDa protein 1 (chaperonin) (HSPD1) X30 L, P, P hypothetical protein FLJ10534 X31 P MAX gene associated (MGA) (PREDICTED) X32 P, P, P Molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) X33 P peroxisomal D3, D2-enoyl-CoA isomerase (PECI) X34 L, P, P ribonuclease III, nuclear (RNASEN) X35 P, P, P RNA binding motif protein 25 (RBM25) X36 P, P, P Sjogren's syndrome/scleroderma autoantigen 1 X37 P, P SVH protein (SVH) X38 P TSR1, 20S rRNA accumulation, homolog (yeast) (TSR1) X39 gP, P, P RNA binding motif protein 25 (RBM25) X40 P Deltex 3-like (Drosophila) (DTX3L) X41 P, L, P recombining binding protein suppressor of hairless X42 P Coiled-coil domain containing 18 (CCDC18) Patient 3 X43 P centromere protein F, 350/400ka (mitosin) (CENPF) X44 L chromosome 1 open reading frame 80 (C1orf80) X45 L, L, L cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 2 (CPSF2) X46 L Enoyl Coenzyme A hydratase 1, peroxisomal (ECH1) X47 filamin B, beta (actin binding protein 278) (FLNB) X48 L, P, P G elongation factor, mitochondrial 2 (GFM2) X49 L, P, P heat shock 60 kDa protein 1 (chaperonin) (HSPD1) X50 L heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 (HSPA8), transcript variant 2 X51 L, P heat shock 70 kDa protein 9B (mortalin-2) (HSPA9B) X52 P, L, L InaD-like (Drosophila) (INADL) X53 L Jumonji X54 L mRNA for mitotic kinesin-like protein-1 (MKLP-1 gene) X55 L, P, P Restin (RSN) X56 L Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase hinge protein (UQCRH) Patient 4 X58 L PNPO Patient 5 X60 gP, gL, P chaperonin containing TCP1, subunit 5 (epsilon) (CCT5) X61 L, gL, gP chromosome 10 open reading frame 118 (C10orf118) X62 gL, gP Enoyl Coenzyme A hydratase 1, peroxisomal (ECH1) X63 P Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit 9 eta, 116 kDa (EIF3S9) X64 gL, P Filamin B, beta (actin binding protein 278) (FLNB) X65 gL, gL, L heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HNRPK), var 1 X66 gL, gP, P Huntingtin interacting protein K (HYPK) X67 P hypothetical protein FLJ14668 (FLJ14668) X68 L, gP, L hypothetical protein FLJ21908 (FLJ21908) X69 L interleukin enhancer binding factor 3, 90 kDa (ILF3), var 1 X70 P KIAA0310 X71 gP membrane-associated ring ringer (C3HC4) 6 (MARCH6) X72 P, gL, gP methylmalonyl Coenzyme A mutase (MUT) X73 gL, gP, P M-phase phosphoprotein 10 (MPHOSPH10) X74 gL, L myosin, heavy polypeptide 10, non-muscle (MYH10) X75 gP neuroblastoma breakpoint family, member 9, variant 13 (NBPF9)-predicted X76 L non-metastatic cells 1, protein (NM23A) expressed in (NME1), var 1 X77 P, P NSFL1 (p97) cofactor (p47) (NSFL1C), var 1 X78 P Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) X79 L ribosomal protein S15a (RPS15A), var 1 X80 gP, gP, P translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 70 homolog A (TOMM70A) X81 gP upstream binding transcription factor, RNA polymerase I (UBTF) X82 L, L YTH domain containing 2 (YTHDC2) Patient 6 X83 gP Coiled-coil domain containing 46 (CCDC46), var 1 X84 gP KIAA0196 X85 gP ribosomal protein L21 (RPL21) X86 gP, gL, L SWI/SNF related, matrix assoc., actin dependent reg of chromatin (SMARCA3) X87 P thyroid hormone receptor interactor 12 (TRIP12) Patient 7 X92 disrupter of silencing 10 (SAS10) X94 heat shock 60 kDa protein 1 (chaperonin) (HSPD1) X96 high-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) X97 interphase cyctoplasmic foci protein 45 (ICF45) X100 LSM3 homolog, U6 small nuclear RNA associated (LSM3) X101 methylmalonyl Coenzyme A mutase (MUT) X102 NSFL1 (p97) cofactor (p47) (NSFL1C) X103 par-3 partitioning defective 3 homolog (C. elegans) (PARD3) X105 proteasome (prosome, macropain) 26S subunit, non- ATPase, 2 (PSMD2) X107 SVH protein (SVH) X108 TAO kinase 3 (TAOK3) X110 golgi autoantigen, macrogolgin (with transmembrane signal), 1 (GOLGB1) X111 heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 (HSPA8) Patient 8 X113 L kinetochore associated 2 (KNTC2) X118 PIT opioid growth factor receptor (OGFR) X120 P, P nexilin (F actin binding protein) (NEXN) X125 L NSFL1 (p97) cofactor (p47) (NSFL1C) X126 L, L hypothetical protein FLJ21908 (FLJ21908) X128 L, P NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) flavoprotein 2, 24 kDa (NDUFV2) X130 P chromosome 14 DNA sequence BAC C-2555O16 (see note for rest) X131 L, P ankyrin repeat and KH domain containing 1 (ANKHD1)/ (MASK-BP3) X132 L, L heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HNRPK) X133 L, P kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) X134 L translocated promoter region (to activated MET oncogene) (TPR) X135 L, L acetyl-Coenzyme A acetyltransferase 2(ACAT2) X136 L, P Huntingtin interacting protein K (HYPK) X137 L InaD-like (Drosophila) (INADL) Patient 4 X138 L, P ring finger protein 8 (RNF8) cont. X139 L, P colony stimulating factor 2 (granulocyte-macrophage) (CSF2) X141 L A kinase (PRKA) anchor protein (yotiao) 9 (AKAP9)

6.1.2. Expanded Analysis of Induced Autoantibody Responses

Employing the compiled list of 143 proteins to which autoantibody responses were observed from the 8 patients, samples from a larger cohort of patients (up to 14 in total) were screened to determine the frequency and selectivity of antibody responses. Representative phage clones of each of the 143 proteins were screened against patient sera pre and post-immunotherapy. Results for all 8 patients from which the clones were originally isolated, are presented in Tables 2 and 3, below.

Results from this expanded screen of patients sera indicate that for a number of proteins, auto-antibodies are induced at a relatively high frequency following immunotherapy. For interpretation, these antigens have been grouped into 2 classes as shown in Tables 2 and 3, below. Although grouped separately for presentation purposes, both groups of genes (de novo and induced) may serve as an important marker of clinical benefit in patients.

De novo antigens (Table 2), were antibody responses that are not detectable pre-therapy in any patient screened so far, but are present in at least 2 (of the 14 patients screened) following immunotherapy. Response is absolute (on/off).

“Induced” antigens (Table 3), were antibody responses that are detectable pre-therapy in a proportion of patients and titer is increased in at least 2 patients post-therapy (enhancement of pre-existing antibody response).

TABLE 2 De novo antibody responses Frequency of Genbank autoantibody accession induction Gene number Following GVAX ® HLA-A gene, HLA-A24 NM_002116 8/13 (62%) allele Filamin B, beta (FLNB) NM_001457 7/12 (58%) NSFL1 (p97) cofactor NM_016143 3/6 (50%) (p47) (NSFL1C) Pyridoxine 5′phosphate NM_018129 6/13 (46%) oxidase (PNPO) SVH protein (SVH) NM_031905 4/9 (44%) Heat shock 60 kDa NM_002156 4/9 (44%) (HSPD1) YTH domain containing 2 NM_022828 3/10 (30%) (YTHDC2) Chaperonin containing NM_012073 3/10 (30%) TCP1, subunit 5 (CCT5) KIAA0196 NM_014846 2/7 (29%) InaD-like (Drosophila) NM_176878 3/12 (25%) (INADL) Translocated promoter NM_003292 2/8 (25%) region (to activated MET oncogene) (TPR) Disrupter of silencing 10 NM_020368 2/8 (25%) (SAS10) Enoyl Coenzyme A NM_001398 3/13 (23%) hydratase 1, peroxisomal (ECH1) Heat shock 70 kDa protein NM_006597/ 2/9 (22%) 8 (HSPA8) 153201 Methylmalonyl Coenzyme NM_000255 2/9 (22%) A mutase (MUT) LSM3 homolog, U6 small NM_014463 2/9 (22%) nuclear RNA associated (LSM3) Dihydrolipoamide S- NM_001931 2/9 (22%) acetyltransferase (DLAT) Huntingtin interacting NM_016400 3/14 (21%) protein K (HYPK) Non-metastatic cells 1, NM_000269/ 2/10 (20%) protein (NM23A) 198175 expressed in (NME1) KIAA0310 XM_946064 2/10 (20%) Eukaryotic translation NM_001037283/ 2/10 (20%) initiation factor 3, subunit 003751 9 eta, 116 kDa (EIF3S9) Acetyl-Coenzyme A NM_005891 2/14 (18%) acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) Proteasome (prosome, NM_002808 2/11 (18%) macropain) 26S subunit, non-ATPase, 2 (PSMD2) Kinetochore associated 2 NM_006101 2/11 (18%) (KNTC2) Interphase cytoplasmic NM_017872 2/13 (15%) protein 45 (ICF45) Translocated promoter NM_003292 2/13 (15%) region (to activated MET oncogene) RAP1 interacting factor NM_018151 2/13 (15%) homolog (yeast) (RIF1)

TABLE 3 Induced antibody responses Frequency of Genbank pre-existing, accession un-augmented Gene number autoantibody response M-phase phosphoprotein NM_005791 5/14 10 (MPHOSPH10) TAO Kinase 3 (TAOK3) NM_016281 4/9  Upstream binding NM_014233 5/10 transcription factor, RNA polymerase 1 (UBTF) Jumonji, AT rich NM_005056 6/12 interactive domain 1A (RBBP2-like) (JARID1A) Rho-associated, coiled-coil NM_004850 6/9  containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) Golgi autoantigen, NM_004487 6/9  macrogolgin (with transmembrane signal), 1 (GOLGB1) Bcl-XL-binding protein NM_138575 3/13 v68 (MGC5352) Mitochondrial ribosomal NM_031903 10/14  protein L32 (MRPL32) Kinesin family member 15 NM_020242 1/14 (KIF15) Centromere protein F, NM_016343 2/12 350/400ka (mitosin) (CENPF) Membrane-associated ring NM_005885 3/8  finger (C3HC4) 6 (MARCH6) Coiled-coil domain NM_001037325 2/9  containing 46 (CCDC46), NM_1455036 var 1 Restin (Reed-Steinberg NM_198240 2/11 (18%) cell-expressed intermediate filament- associated protein) (RSN) Coiled-coil domain NM_206886 4/11 containing 18 (CCDC18) Acetyl-Coenzyme A NM_001607 1/14 acyltransferase 1 (ACAA1)

Therefore, in patients treated with cell-based prostate cancer immunotherapy, a number of autoantibody responses are induced at a relatively high frequency (FLNB, SVH, HSPD1, MPHOSPH10, etc.).

6.1.3. Cloning and Characterization of Antigens

The following list identifies to top 20 most frequent antibody responses (from both the de novo and induced gene lists):

TABLE 4 1. HLA-A gene, HLA-A24 allele 2. Filamin B, beta (FLNB) 3. M-phase phosphoprotein 10 (MPHOSPH10) 4. TAO Kinase 3 (TAOK3) 5. NSFL1 (p97) cofactor (p47) (NSFL1C) 6. Upstream binding transcription factor, RNA polymerase 1 (UBTF) 7. Pyridoxine 5′phosphate oxidase (PNPO) 8. SVH protein (SVH) 9. Heat shock 60 kDa (HSPD1) 10. Jumonji, AT rich interactive domain 1A (RBBP2-like) (JARID1A) 11. Bcl-XL-binding protein v68 (MGC5352) 12. YTH domain containing 2 (YTHDC2) 13. Chaperonin containing TCP1, subunit 5 (CCT5) 14. Kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) 15. InaD-like (Drosophila) (INADL) 16. Enoyl Coenzyme A hydratase 1, peroxisomal (ECH1) 17. Huntingtin interacting protein K (HYPK) 18. Non-metastatic cells 1, protein (NM23A) expressed in (NME1) 19. Acetyl-Coenzyme A acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) 20. Methylmalonyl Coenzyme A mutase (MUT)

Full length genes are cloned into a mammalian based expression system (e.g., a lentiviral expression plasmid) and a FLAG-tag is added at the C-terminal end to aid with detection and purification. Antibody responses to these high frequency hits of 20 proteins are determined from all trials available (G98-03, G0010, VITAL-1/2) and the induction of antibody response is examined in correlation to survival. These responses either alone, or grouped with the defined antigen responses discussed below, are used for a number of applications including a surrogate marker of immunotherapy treatment, correlation with patient survival data to provide an efficacy signature, clinical trial monitoring (biomarkers) and assay development of cell characterization marker for lot release (product characterization, comparability markers).

Certain of the above-identified antigens were cloned and characterized as set forth below.

6.1.3.1 Cloning, Protein Production and Antibody Response to FLNB in Patients Administered a Cell-Based Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy

FLNB was cloned with a C-terminus Flag tag into a lentivirus plasmid vector for protein production. To generate the plasmid a FLNB intermediate was first cloned which contained the 3′ end of FLNB attached to C-terminal Flag tag sequence (in frame). To generate this clone, a PCR fragment was generated using the forward primer (5′-actacctgatcagtgtcaaa-3′) (SEQ ID NO.: 18) and the reverse primer (5′-gtaatctccggaaggcactgtgacatgaaaag-3′) (SEQ ID NO.: 19) using a FLNB template obtained from Invitrogen (clone CSODKOO1YE14) and High Fidelity Expand PCR kit (Roche). The resulting PCR product was cleaned by Qiagen PCR Purification kit, digested with BspE1 and then ligated into a parental lentivirus plasmid vector pKCCMVp53flag which was previously digested with SmaI and BspE 1. To generate the full length FLNB Flag tag vector, the following fragments were ligated together: the Agel to SalI fragment from pKCCMVGFP, the BspE1 to Bcll fragment from the Invitrogen FLNB clone CSODKOO1YE14, and the Bcll to SalI fragment from the FLNB intermediate described above. The vector construct called pKCCMVFLNBflag was fully sequenced.

To express FLNB, Flag-tagged FLNB was produced in mammalian cells and purified using affinity purification. In brief, twenty-four hours before transfection, 10 75 cm² plates were seeded with 5×10⁶ cells/plate HEK293 cells. Twenty-four hours later, cells were transfected with 10 μg/plate of pKCCMVFLNBflag using a calcium phosphate transfection kit (Clontech). Three days post-transfection cells were lysed with cell lysis buffer (+protease inhibitors) and FLNB protein purified using Anti-Flag M2 affinity columns (Sigma) according to manufacturing instructions.

For western blot analysis of patients antibodies to filamin B, 150 ng of purified filamin B was separated on a Tris-Glycine gel (Invitrogen) under reducing conditions and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane. Blots were then blocked overnight with 3% nonfat dry milk in TBS and incubated with a 1:500 dilution of patients serum post-therapy for 3 hours. Blots were then washed in TBST and incubated with an IgG/IgM specific donkey anti-human secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase for an hour and a half Following TBST washes immunoreactive bands were visualized by exposure of photographic film (Kodak) after the blots were treated with the ECL enhanced chemiluminescence system (Pierce). Patients 1, 3, 4, and 5 an immunoreactive band at 280 kDa running at the predicted molecular weight could be observed in the post-therapy serum samples, while immunoreactivity was absent in pre-therapy samples.

Patient antibodies to FLNB were also monitored in an ELISA. To do so, 96 well plates were coated with 250 ng/well of purified FLNB overnight in bicarbonate buffer (coating buffer). Next day, wells were washed with PBST and then blocked using 1% BSA in PBST for 3 hours at room temperature. Following blocking, wells were washed in PBST and serum added at a range of concentrations (1:100-10,000) diluted in PBST+1% BSA. One and half hours post-serum addition, plates were washed and then incubated with a Donkey-anti Human IgG IgM HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson) diluted at 1:10,000 in PBST for 1 hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed and bound secondary antibody detected using TBM (KPL). Plates were then read at 450 nm. To determine induction of an FLNB antibody response, the post-therapy O.D. value was divided by the pre-therapy O.D to determine a fold induction. Fold induction levels>2 were considered significant. In patients 1, 3, 4, and 5, a significant fold increase in O.D. could be observed by the post/pre ratio. In comparison IgG/IgM antibodies to tetanus toxoid, a protein to which the majority of the population has been actively vaccinated to, was unchanged (pre/post ration<2) following treatment indicating the increase in titer is FLNB specific. Results indicating patient antibody generation to FLNB following therapy agree for western blot and ELISA analysis (i.e. patients 1, 3, 4, and 5 were positive).

6.1.3.2 Cloning, Protein Production and Antibody Response to PNPO Following Immunotherapy

PNPO was cloned with a C-terminus Flag tag into a lentivirus plasmid vector, using a PNPO clone identified from SEREX analysis to generate pKCCMVPNPOflag. PNPO-flag was cloned by PCR attaching the Flag tag to the 3′ end of the gene using the forward primers (5′-gcctacccacaggagattcc) (SEQ ID NO.: 20) and the reverse primer (5′-gtaatctccggaaggtgcaagtctctcataga) (SEQ ID NO.: 21) using a SEREX identified PNPO clone as s DNA PCR template. The PCR product was cleaned by Qiagen PCR purification kit, digested with Apa1 and BspE1, and ligated into identical sites in the parental vector pKCCMVp53flagdR1. The vector construct called pKCCMVPNPOflag was then sequence verified.

Flag-tagged PNPO was produced in mammalian cells and purified using affinity purification. In brief, twenty-four hours before transfection, 10 75 cm² plates were seeded with 5×10e6 cells/plate HEK293 cells. Twenty-four hours later, cells were transfected with 10 μg/plate of pKCCMVPNPOflag using a calcium phosphate transfection kit (Clontech). Three days post-transfection cells were lysed with cell lysis buffer (+protease inhibitors) and PNPO protein purified using Anti-Flag M2 affinity columns (Sigma) according to manufacturing instructions.

For western analysis of patients antibodies to PNPO, 150 ng of purified PNPO was separated on a Tris-Glycine gel (Invitrogen) under reducing conditions and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane. Blots were then blocked overnight with 3% nonfat dry milk in TBS and incubated with a 1:500 dilution of patients serum post-therapy for 3 hours. Blots were then washed in TBST and incubated with an IgG/IgM specific donkey anti-human secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase for an hour and a half. Following TBST washes immunoreactive bands were visualized by exposure of photographic film (Kodak) after the blots were treated with the ECL enhanced chemiluminescence system (Pierce). In samples from Patients 1, 2, 3, and 5, an immunoreactive band at 30 kDa running at the predicted molecular weight of PNPO could be observed in the post-therapy serum samples. Immunoreactivity was absent in pre-therapy samples.

96 well plates were coated with 250 ng/well of purified PNPO overnight in bicarbonate buffer (coating buffer). The next day, wells were washed with PBST and then blocked using 1% BSA in PBST for 3 hours at room temperature. Following blocking, wells were washed in PBST and serum added at a range of concentrations (1:100-10,000) diluted in PBST+1% BSA. One and half hours post-serum addition, plates were washed and then incubated with a Donkey-anti Human IgG IgM HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson) diluted at 1:10,000 in PBST for 1 hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed and bound secondary antibody detected using TBM (KPL). Plates were then read at 450 nm. To determine induction of an PNPO antibody response, the post-therapy O.D. value was divided by the pre-therapy O.D. to determine a fold induction. Fold induction levels>2 were considered significant. In patients 1, 2, 3 and 5, a significant fold increase in O.D. could be observed by the post/pre ratio. In comparison, IgG/IgM antibodies to tetanus toxoid, a protein against which the majority of the population has been actively vaccinated, were unchanged (pre/post ration<2) following treatment. This indicates that the increase in titer was PNPO specific. Results indicating patient antibody generation to PNPO following therapy agreed for western blot and ELISA analysis (i.e., patients 1, 2, 3 and 5 were positive for both assays).

6.1.3.3 Cloning, Protein Production and Antibody Response to NSFL1C

NSFL1C was cloned with a C-terminus Flag tag into a lentivirus vector, using a NSFL1C clone identified from SEREX analysis to generate pKCCMVNSFL1Cflag. pKCCMVNSFL1Cflag was cloned by PCR attaching the Flag tag to the 3′ end of the NSFL1C gene and an ATG start codon to the 5′ end of the gene. To generate this PCR product, the forward primer (5′-gggcccgaattcatggcggcggagcgacaggaggcgctg) (SEQ ID NO.: 22) and the reverse primer (5′-gtaatctccggatgttaaccgctgcacgatga) (SEQ ID NO.: 23) were used with the SEREX identified clone of NSFL1C as the DNA PCR template and High Fidelity Expand PCR kit. The PCR product was cleaned by Qiagen PCR Purification Kit, digested with EcoR1 and BspE1, and ligated into identical sites in the parental vector pKCCMVp53flagdR1. The resulting vector construct pKCCMVNSFL1Cflag was sequenced verified.

Flag-tagged NSFL1C was produced in mammalian cells and purified using affinity purification. In brief, twenty-four hours before transfection, 10 75 cm² plates were seeded with 5×10e6 cells/plate HEK293 cells. Twenty-four hours later, cells were transfected with 10 μg/plate of pKCCMVNSFL1Cflag using a calcium phosphate transfection kit (Clontech). Three days post-transfection cells were lysed with cell lysis buffer (+protease inhibitors) and NSFL1C protein purified using Anti-Flag M2 affinity columns (Sigma) according to manufacturing instructions.

For western analysis of patients antibodies to NSFL1C, 150 ng of purified NSFL1C was separated on a Tris-Glycine gel (Invitrogen) under reducing conditions and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane. Blots were then blocked overnight with 3% nonfat dry milk in TBS and incubated with a 1:500 dilution of patients serum post-therapy for 3 hours. Blots were then washed in TBST and incubated with an IgG/IgM specific donkey anti-human secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase for an hour and a half. Following TBST washes immunoreactive bands were visualized by exposure of photographic film (Kodak) after the blots were treated with the ECL enhanced chemiluminescence system (Pierce). In serum from patients 1, 3 and 4, an immunoreactive band at 40 kDa correlating with the expected size of NSFL1C could be observed in the post-therapy serum samples. Immunoreactivity was absent in pre-therapy samples.

ELISAs were also performed to assess immune response against NSFL1C. To do so, 96 well plates were coated with 250 ng/well of purified NSFL1C overnight in bicarbonate buffer (coating buffer). Next day, wells were washed with PBST and then blocked using 1% BSA in PBST for 3 hours at room temperature. Following blocking, wells were washed in PBST and serum added at a range of concentrations (1:100-10,000) diluted in PBST+1% BSA. One and half hours post-serum addition, plates were washed and then incubated with a Donkey-anti Human IgG IgM HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson) diluted at 1:10,000 in PBST for 1 hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed and bound secondary antibody detected using TBM (KPL). Plates were then read at 450 nm. To determine induction of a NSFL1C antibody response, the post-therapy O.D. value was divided by the pre-therapy O.D. to determine a fold induction. Fold induction levels>2 were considered significant. In patients 1, 3 and 4, a significant fold increase in O.D. to NSFL1C could be observed by the post/pre ratio. In comparison IgG/IgM antibodies to tetanus toxoid, a protein to which the majority of the population has been actively vaccinated to, was unchanged (pre/post ration<2) following treatment indicating the increase in titer is NSFL1C specific. Results indicating patient antibody generation to NSFL1C following treatment agree for western blot and ELISA analysis (i.e., patients 1, 3 and 4 were positive for both ELISA and western analysis).

6.1.4. Expression Levels of Genes

The role of some of the high-frequency hits in prostate cancer progression through examining RNA expression levels has been preliminarily examined. For example, FIGS. 1 and 2 present the expression patterns of PNPO and FLNB, respectively, with increasing prostate cancer disease grade derived from the Oncomine database (www.oncomine.com). Expression of both PNPO and FLNB are induced upon prostate cancer disease progression, tying in with their potential roles as tumor associated antigens. Expression of the closely related family member filamin A (ABP280), is selectively down-regulated with disease progression for comparison (Varambally et al. 2005).

6.2 Example 2: Defined Prostate Cancer Antigen Screening

This example describes the results of experiments designed to assess humoral immune responses against prostate cancer antigens. In these experiments, a selection of 20 genes that are associated with prostate cancer and have previously demonstrated an interaction with the immune response were selected for evaluation. The genes are set forth in Table 5, below. This list includes:

TABLE 5 Prostate specific antigen (PSA) Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) NY-ESO-1 LAGE Telomerase (hTERT) p53 Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) Her2/neu α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) Glucose-regulated protein-78 kDa (GRP78) P62 P90 Cyclin-B1 TARP (T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein) Filamin B (CGi identified) Prostein Survivin Prostase/Kallikrein 4

All of these candidates were cloned into a plasmid expression system and recombinant proteins expressed using FLAG-tag based immunoaffinity purification. Following protein production, patient serum was assessed in both a western blot and/or in an ELISA format to immunoscreen candidates for antibody reactivity. Screening the patients from a monotherapy trial, 5 antigens associated with an autoantibody response were identified as set forth in Table 6, below.

TABLE 6 Frequency of pre- existing, un-\ Genbank augmented Frequency of accession autoantibody autoantibody Gene number response induction Filamin B, beta NM_001457 0/7 4/7 (FLNB) Prostate-specific NM_004476 1/7 1/7 membrane antigen (PSMA) Her2/neu NM_004448 1/7 0/7 NY-ESO-1 HSU87459 0/7 1/6 LAGE-1a HSA223041 0/7 1/6

6.2.1. Cloning and Characterization of Antigens

Following identification of proteins correlated with an antibody response in serum, antigen targets are further characterized for cellular immune response (T-cells) using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) harvested from patients administered cell-based prostate cancer immunotherapy.

6.2.1.1 Detecting Activation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in IFN-γ Assays

This example provides an exemplary method for detecting activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by monitoring IFN-γ expression by the CTLs in response to exposure to an appropriate antigen, e.g., a filamin-B peptide presented on an MHC I receptor.

First, peripheral blood monocytic cells (PBMCs) are isolated from a subject to be assessed for cellular immune response against a filamin-B peptide and CD8+ cells are isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The CD8+ cells are then incubated with, e.g., T2 cells loaded with the filamin-B peptide to be assessed, produced as described above, and in the presence of suitable cytokines for expanding the CTL population.

IFN-γ release by the CTLs is measured using an IFN-γ ELISA kit (PBL-Biomedical Laboratory, Piscataway, N.J.). Briefly, purified IFN-γ as standards or culture supernates from the CTL-T2 co-culture are transferred into wells of a 96-well plate pre-coated with a monoclonal anti-human IFN-γ capture antibody and incubated for 1 h in a closed chamber at 24° C. After washing the plate with PBS/0.05% Tween 20, biotin anti-human IFN-γ antibody is added to the wells and incubated for 1 h at 24° C. The wells are washed and then developed by incubation with streptavidin horseradish peroxidase conjugate and TMB substrate solution. Stop solution is added to each well and the absorbance is determined at 450 nm with a SpectraMAX Plus plate reader (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). The amount of cytokine present in the CTL culture supernatants is calculated based on the IFN-γ standard curve.

6.2.1.2 Detecting Activation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Proliferation Assays

This example provides an exemplary method for detecting activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by CTL proliferation in response to exposure to an appropriate antigen, e.g., a filamin-B peptide presented on an MHC I receptor.

First, peripheral blood monocytic cells (PBMCs) are isolated from a subject to be assessed for cellular immune response against a filamin-B peptide and CD8+ cells are isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The CD8+ cells are then incubated with, e.g., T2 cells loaded with the filamin-B peptide to be assessed, produced as described above.

Next, the samples are incubated for 12 hours, then 20 μl of 3H-thymidine is added to each well and the sample incubated for an additional 12 hours. Cells are harvested and the plate is read in a beta counter to determine the amount of unincorporated 3H-thymidine.

6.2.1.3 Detecting Activation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Effector Assays

This example provides an exemplary method for detecting activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by monitoring lysis of cells displaying an appropriate antigen, e.g., a filamin-B peptide presented on an MHC I receptor.

The cytotoxic activity of the CTLs is measured in a standard ⁵¹Cr-release assay. Effector cells (CTLs) are seeded with ⁵¹Cr-labeled target cells (5×10³ cells/well) at various effector:target cell ratios in 96-well U-bottom microtiter plates. Plates are incubated for 4 h at 37° C., 5% CO₂. The ⁵¹Cr-release is measured in 100 μl supernatant using a Beckman LS6500 liquid scintillation counter (Beckman Coulter, Brea, Calif.). The percent specific cell lysis is calculated as [(experimental release−spontaneous release)/(maximum release−spontaneous release)]. Maximum release is obtained from detergent-released target cell counts and spontaneous release from target cell counts in the absence of effector cells.

6.3 Autoantibody Detection Following Therapy Using Protein Microarrays

In addition to SEREX and defined prostate tumor associated antigen screening, a third technique, autoantibody detection using protein microarrays, was employed to determine therapy-related increases in patient antibody titer following immunotherapy. Protein microarrays are new tools that provide investigators with defined protein content for profiling serum samples to identify autoantigen biomarkers (Casiano et al. 2006; Bradford et al. 2006; Qin et al. 2006). Invitrogen's ProtoArray® Human Protein Microarrays (version 4) contain over 8,000 purified human proteins immobilized on glass slides. Probing protein microarrays with serum from pre-therapy and post-therapy patient serum samples allows the identification of immunogenic proteins that are potential antigens.

6.3.1. Immune Response Biomarkers Identified by ProtoArray Analysis: Set 1

Immune Response Biomarker Profiling was performed by Invitrogen for seven serum samples: Pre-therapy and Post-therapy serum samples for 3 patients and 1 normal serum donor for comparison. The reactivity of serum antibodies against proteins on ProtoArray® Human Protein Microarrays was investigated. Comparisons were made across sera from three individual prostate cancer patients prior to and following treatment. For each patient, a number of proteins were identified exhibiting elevated signals (pixel intensity) in the post-treatment sample relative to the prostate cancer samples prior to therapy. While a number of markers were unique to the individual patients, several candidate autoantigens were identified that were shared between multiple patients included in the study. These included the proteins listed below:

TABLE 7 OTUB2 FLJ14668 HIGD2A LOC51240 Neuronatin CD52 ORM1-like3 Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 11 UBX domain containing 8

Protein array analysis indicated 2 of the 3 patients were positive for the protein OTUB2 (Swiss-prot Q96DC9). Patients displayed a 14.1 and 7.7-fold increase in titer, compared to a low signal background in normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product derived from FLJ14668 (NP_(—)116211). Patients displayed a 36.2, 5.2 and 7.7-fold increase in titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product of gene HIGD2A (NP_(—)620175). Patients displayed a 3.5, 2.2 and 2.1-fold increase in antibody titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product of gene LOC51240 (NP_(—)054901). Patients displayed a 5.2, 4.7 and 6.4-fold increase in antibody titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product of gene Neuronatin (NP_(—)005377 (isoform A/NP_(—)859017 (isoform B)). Patients displayed a 8.0, 2.3 and 2.6-fold increase in antibody titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product of gene CD52 (NP_(—)001794). Patients displayed a 4.1, 2.4 and 3.1-fold increase in antibody titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product ORM1-like 3 (NP_(—)644809) of gene ORMDL3. Patients displayed a 5.6, 1.7 and 2.5-fold increase in antibody titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 11 (NP_(—)002410) of gene MAP3K11. Patients displayed a 7.7, 1.7 and 3.0-fold increase in antibody titer, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

Protein array analysis indicated 3 out of the 3 patients were positive for the protein product UBX domain containing 8 (NP_(—)055428) of gene UBXD8. Patients displayed a 5.9, 2.5 and 2.3-fold increase in antibody titer for 1 clone and 3.0, 1.8 and 1.6-fold increase for another clone, compared to a low signal background in the normal serum samples.

6.3.2. Immune Response Biomarkers Identified by ProtoArray Analysis: Set 2

Immune Response Biomarker Profiling was performed by Invitrogen for Pre-GVAX and Post-GVAX serum samples for 10 patients (8 patients from G-0010 and 2 from G-9803, described below). Patients were selected for ProtoArray analysis based upon their improved clinical outcome when comparing predicted survival (Halabi nomogram) to actual (Table 8).

TABLE 8 GVAX Patient Halabi Actual Survival increase Study # score survival (Actual − Halabi) G-0010 451 14 47.9 33.9 G-0010 57 15 44.9 29.9+ G-0010 202 21 52.2+ 31.2+ G-0010 101 25 43.9+ 18.9+ G-0010 355 24 35.5+ 11.5+ G-0010 306 18 36.2+ 18.2+ G-0010 205 24 48.3+ 24.3+ G-0010 268 21 41.5+ 20.5+ G-9803 804 22 38.5 16.5 G-9803 304 19 42 23 +indicates that actual survival has not yet been reached

Comparisons were made across sera from 10 individual GVAX patients, and results were compared using M-Statistics to determine the differential signals between pre and post-GVAX populations that result in a significant P-value. Proteins that exhibited a significant increase in antibody titer (p=<0.05), as determined by ProtoArray, are displayed in Table 9.

TABLE 9 Pre- Post- GVAX GVAX Pre-GVAX Post-GVAX Protein Description Database ID Count Count Prevalence Prevalence P-Value lectin, galactoside- BC015818.1 0 9 8.3% 83.3% 5.95E−05 binding, soluble, 8 (galectin 8) (LGALS8) Cardiolipin - known CARDIOLIPIN 1 9 16.7%  83.3% 5.47E−04 Autoantigen UBX domain containing 8 BC014001.1 0 7 8.3% 66.7% 1.55E−03 (UBXD8) CD52 molecule NM_001803.1 0 7 8.3% 66.7% 1.55E−03 ORM1-like 1 NM_016467.1 1 10 16.7%  91.7% 1.55E−03 (S. cerevisiae) (ORMDL1) neuronatin (NNAT) NM_181689.1 2 9  25% 83.3% 2.74E−03 TCR gamma alternate NM_001003799.1 3 10 33.3%  91.7% 5.42E−03 reading frame protein (TARP), nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein HIG1 domain family, NM_138820.1 3 10 33.3%  91.7% 5.42E−03 member 2A (HIGD2A) serine incorporator 2 BC017085.1 0 6 8.3% 58.3% 5.42E−03 (SERINC2) signal sequence receptor, NM_007107.2 0 6 8.3% 58.3% 5.42E−03 gamma (translocon- associated protein gamma) (SSR3) UBX domain containing NM_014613.1 0 6 8.3% 58.3% 5.42E−03 8 (UBXD8) ORM1-like 3 NM_139280.1 1 7 16.7%  66.7% 9.88E−03 (S. cerevisiae) (ORMDL3) ribosomal protein S6 PV3846 1 7 16.7%  66.7% 9.88E−03 kinase, 90 kDa, polypeptide 2 (RPS6KA2) lectin, galactoside- BC001120.1 4 10 41.7%  91.7% 1.63E−02 binding, soluble, 3 (LGALS3) selenoprotein S (SELS) BC005840.2 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 lectin, galactoside- BC016486.1 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 binding, soluble, 8 (galectin 8) (LGALS8) chromosome 14 open BC021701.1 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 reading frame 147 similar to CG10671-like BC042179.1 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 (LOC161247) lectin, galactoside- BC053667.1 4 10 41.7%  91.7% 1.63E−02 binding, soluble, 3 (LGALS3) caveolin 3 (CAV3) NM_001234.3 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 cytochrome b-561 domain NM_007022.1 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 containing 2 (CYB561D2) ORM1-like 2 NM_014182.2 0 5 8.3%   50% 1.63E−02 (S. cerevisiae) (ORMDL2) signal peptidase complex BC000884.1 1 6 16.7%  58.3% 2.86E−02 subunit 1 homolog (S. cerevisiae) (SPCS1) hypothetical protein BC014975.1 1 6 16.7%  58.3% 2.86E−02 FLJ14668 chromosome 21 open BC015596.1 1 6 16.7%  58.3% 2.86E−02 reading frame 51 (C21orf51) kelch domain containing NM_138433.2 0 6 8.3% 58.3% 2.86E−02 7B (KLHDC7B) presenilin enhancer 2 NM_172341.1 1 6 16.7%  58.3% 2.86E−02 homolog (C. elegans) (PSENEN) stearoyl-CoA desaturase BC005807.2 3 8 33.3%    75% 3.49E−02 (delta-9-desaturase) (SCD) interferon regulatory BC015803.1 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 factor 2 (IRF2) TNF receptor-associated BC018950.2 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 protein 1 (TRAP1) N-glycanase 1 (NGLY1) NM_018297.2 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 Der1-like domain family, NM_024295.1 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 member 1 (DERL1) hippocampus abundant NM_032318.1 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 gene transcript-like 2 (HIATL2) bridging integrator 1 NM_139348.1 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 (BIN1) similar to RIKEN cDNA XM_096472.2 0 4 8.3% 41.7% 4.33E−02 1700029115 (LOC 143678)

6.4 Association of SEREX and Protoarray Antigen Responses with Clinical Response in G-9803 and G-0010 GVAX Immunotherapy Trials for Prostate Cancer

G-9803 (n=55 patients) and G-0010 (n=80 patients) are Phase II GVAX immunotherapy trials in chemotherapy-naïve patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC; FIGS. 3A and 3B).

The G-9803 study (FIG. 3A) included 2 different HRPC patient populations and 2 dose levels. In relation to HRPC patient populations, G-9803 enrolled PSA-rising and metastatic patients. Patients in the PSA-only group had increasing PSA levels but negative bone scan. Patients in the metastatic group had overt metastatic disease (positive bone scan, bidimensionally measurable disease, or both). All patients received a priming dose of 500×10⁶ (250×10⁶ cells from each of PC3 and LNCaP cell lines). Patients in the PSA-only group and the first 24 patients in the metastatic group received the low dose (LD) boost of 100 million cells (50 million of each cell line). Since no dose limiting toxicities were seen at this dose level, a high dose (HD) of 300×10⁶ cells (150×10⁶ of each cell line) was given to 10 additional patients in the metastatic group. Each cell type was injected intradermally in opposite limbs every 2 weeks for 6 months.

The G-0010 study enrolled metastatic HRPC patients only (FIG. 3B). The G-0010 study included 4 dose levels:

-   -   Dose Level 1: Each vaccination consisted of 2 intradermal         injections of PC-3 cells to deliver a total of 50×10⁶ cells, and         2 intradermal injections of LNCaP cells to deliver 50×10⁶ cells,         for a total of 100×10⁶ cells per dose.     -   Dose Level 2: Each vaccination consisted of 3 intradeinial         injections of PC-3 cells to deliver a total of 100×10⁶ cells,         and 3 intradermal injections of LNCaP cells to deliver 100×10⁶         cells, for a total of 200×10⁶ cells per dose.     -   Dose Level 3: Each vaccination consisted of up to 6 intradermal         injections of PC-3 cells to deliver 150×10⁶ cells, and up to 6         intradermal injections of LNCaP cells to deliver 150×10⁶ cells,         for a total of 300×10⁶ cells per dose.     -   Dose Level 4: The prime vaccination consisted of up to 10         intradermal injections of PC-3 cells to deliver 250×10⁶ cells,         and up to 10 intradermal injections of LNCaP cells to deliver         250×10⁶ cells, for a total of 500×10⁶ cells per dose. The boost         vaccinations consisted of up to 6 intradermal injections of PC-3         cells to deliver 150×10⁶ cells, and up to 6 intradermal         injections of LNCaP cells to deliver 150×10⁶ cells, for a total         of 300×10⁶ cells per dose.

The association between the induction of SEREX and ProtoArray identified antibodies with G98-03 and G-0010 patient survival using Kaplan-Meyer endpoint analysis was determined. As means of example, results for HLA-A24, OTUB2, FLJ14668, NNAT and Cardiolipin are presented.

6.4.1. Association of HLA-A24 Ab Response to Survival in GVAX-treated prostate patients from the G-0010 trial

6.4.1.1 Cloning Strategy for HLA-A24

HLA-A24 was cloned with a C-terminus Flag tag into a lentivirus plasmid vector, using a purchased HLA-A2402 plasmid clone (International Histocompatability Working Group) to generate pKCCMVHLA-A24Flag (FIG. 4A). Briefly, HLA-A2402Flag was cloned by PCR attaching the Flag tag to the 3′ end of the gene using the forward primers (5′-atatggatccatggccgtcatggcgccccg) (SEQ ID NO.: 24) and the reverse primer (5′-aatctccggacactttacaagctgtgagag) (SEQ ID NO.: 25) using the HLA-A2402 plasmid clone as s DNA PCR template. The PCR product was cleaned by Roche gel extraction kit, digested with BamHI and BspE1, and ligated into identical sites in the parental vector pKCCMVNYESO1 flag. The vector construct called pKCCMVHLA-A2402Flag has been sequenced verified. SEQ ID NOS. 26 and 27 represent the HLA-A2402Flag amino acid and nucleotide sequence, respectively.

6.4.1.2 HLA-A2402Flag Protein Production

Flag-tagged HLA-A24 was produced in mammalian cells and purified using affinity purification. In brief, twenty-four hours before transfection, 10 75 cm² plates were seeded with 5×10e6 cells/plate HEK293 cells. Twenty-four hours later, cells were transfected with 10 μg/plate of pKCCMVHLA-A2402Flag using a calcium phosphate transfection kit (Clontech). Three days post-transfection cells were lysed with cell lysis buffer (+protease inhibitors) and HLA-A2402Flag protein purified using Anti-Flag M2 affinity columns (Sigma) according to manufacturing instructions.

6.4.1.3 Analysis of GVAX-Treated Patient Antibodies to HLA-A24 Using Western Blot

For western analysis of patients antibodies to HLA-A24, 200 ng of purified HLA-A24 was separated on a Tris-Glycine gel (Invitrogen) under reducing conditions and transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane. Blots were then blocked overnight with 3% nonfat dry milk in TBS and incubated with a 1:500 dilution of G-0010 patients (n=65) serum post-GVAX therapy for 3 hours. Blots were then washed in TBST and incubated with an IgG/IgM specific donkey anti-human secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase for an hour and a half. Following TBST washes immunoreactive bands were visualized by exposure of photographic film (Kodak) after the blots were treated with the ECL enhanced chemiluminescence system (Pierce). As shown in FIG. 4B, in patients 104, 302, 307 and 437 an immunoreactive band at 45 kDa running at the predicted molecular weight of HLA-A24Flag could be observed in the post-GVAX serum samples. Immunoreactivity to additional HLA-A alleles (produced as for HLA-A24) present in the GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer (HLA-A1 and A2) was only observed in 1 patient of 65 tested, patient 437. Immunostaining with an HRP-linked anti-FLAG monoclonal antibody demonstrates equal loading of all HLA-A proteins. Immunoreactivity was absent in pre-GVAX therapy samples (data not shown). Twenty-five HRPC patients who received a full course (9 cycles) of Docetaxel (taxotere) chemotherapy were also evaluated for HLA-A24 immunoreactivity over the course of treatment (pre- and post-taxotere) by western blot analysis. No patient induced a response over the course of therapy indicating the specificity of HLA-A24 antibody induction to GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer treated patients.

6.4.1.4 Association of HLA-A24 Immune Response and Survival

The association of HLA-A24 Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored HLA-A24 antibody positive or negative dependent on western blot immunoreactivity and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 4C). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the PC-3-derived HLA-A24 is associated with survival. Among HLA-A24 haplotype negative pts, the HLA-A24 Ab-positive pts (n=30) had a median survival of 43 m vs. 18 m in Ab-negative pts (n=28), HR=0.53, p=0.04. Indicating a 47% reduction in hazard rate (HR) in those patients with HLA-A24 antibodies compared to those without antibodies, after controlling for the Halabi predicted survival.

6.4.2. Association of OTUB2 Ab Response to Survival in HRPC Patients Treated with GVAX Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Employing an ELISA based-assay for determining antibody titers, patients from G-9803 and G-0010 were evaluated for OTUB2 antibody titer induction post-GVAX immunotherapy. Purified OTUB2 protein (200 ng) was coated onto an ELISA plate and blocked with Superblock buffer for 2 hours. Patient serum both pre and post-GVAX immunotherapy was then added to the plates for 3 hours at room temperature. Following incubation, bound antibody was detected using a Donkey anti-human IgG-HRP conjugate secondary antibody at 1:10,000 dilution. Induced antibody titers to OTUB2 were determined by dividing the well O.D. of the post-GVAX sample with the pre-GVAX O.D. to provide a fold-induction. Patients with a fold induction≧2 fold, were considered positive for the survival analysis. An example of OTUB2 antibody induction in G-0010 patients is shown in FIG. 5A. Survival of those patients with induced Ab responses to OTUB2 were then compared to OTUB2 negative patients in G-0010 and G-9803. A survival advantage was observed in both trials. A representative survival analysis is shown in G-9803 PSA-rising HRPC patients. As shown in FIG. 5B, induction of antibodies to OTUB2 is associated with a 26.7 months longer survival in G-9803 patients. The correlation with survival in the PSA-rising population of G-9803 is also statistically significant (p=0.0266).

6.4.3. Association of FLJ14668 Ab Response to Survival in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.3.1 Cloning Strategy for FLJ14668

FLJ14668 was cloned with a C-terminus Flag tag into a lentivirus plasmid vector, using a purchased synthetically constructed FLJ14468Flag plasmid clone (GeneArt) to generate pKCCMV-FLJ14668Flag (FIG. 6A). Briefly, the FLJ14668Flag transgene was excised from the parental plasmid using EcoRI and SalI restriction enzymes and ligated into identical sites in the parental vector pKCCMVp53flagdR1. The resulting vector construct, pKCCMV-FLJ14668Flag, was sequenced verified. SEQ ID NOS. 28 and 29 represent the FLJ14668Flag amino acid and nucleotide sequence, respectively.

6.4.3.2 FLJ14668Flag Protein Production

Flag-tagged FLJ14668 was produced in mammalian cells and purified using affinity purification. In brief, twenty-four hours before transfection, 10 75 cm² plates were seeded with 5×10e6 cells/plate HEK293 cells. Twenty-four hours later, cells were transfected with 10 μg/plate of pKCCMV-FLJ14668Flag using a calcium phosphate transfection kit (Clontech). Three days post-transfection cells were lysed with cell lysis buffer (+protease inhibitors) and FLJ14668Flag protein purified using Anti-Flag M2 affinity columns (Sigma) according to manufacturing instructions.

6.4.3.3 Analysis of GVAX-Treated Patient Antibodies to FLJ14668 Using ELISA

96 well plates were coated with 250 ng/well of purified FLJ14668 overnight in bicarbonate buffer (coating buffer). Next day, wells were washed with PBST and then blocked using 1% BSA in PBST for 3 hours at room temperature. Following blocking, wells were washed in PBST and serum added at a 1:100 dilution in PBST+1% BSA. One and half hours post-serum addition, plates were washed and then incubated with a Donkey-anti Human IgG IgM HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson) diluted at 1:10,000 in PBST for 1 hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed and bound secondary antibody detected using TBM (KPL). Plates were then read at 450 nm. To determine induction of an FLJ14668 antibody response, the post-GVAX O.D value was divided by the pre-GVAX O.D to determine a fold induction (FIG. 6B). Fold induction levels>2 were considered significant (as determined by normal controls). In comparison IgG/IgM antibodies to tetanus toxoid, a protein to which the majority of the population has been actively vaccinated to, was unchanged (pre/post ration<2) following GVAX-treatment indicating the increase in titer specific to FLJ14668 (FIG. 6C). Twenty-five HRPC patients who received a full course (9 cycles) of Docetaxel (taxotere) chemotherapy were also evaluated for FLJ14668 immunoreactivity over the course of treatment (pre- and post-taxotere) by ELISA. No patient induced a response over the course of therapy indicating the specificity of FLJ14668 antibody induction to GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer treated patients.

6.4.3.4 Association of FLJ14668Flag Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of FLJ14668 Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored FLJ14668 antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 6D). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the FLJ14668 is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to FLJ14668 protein (n=34) had a median survival of 43 m vs. 21 m in antibody negative pts (n=31), p=0.002.

The patients with FLJ14668 antibody had 66% reduction in hazard rate (HR), compared to those patients antibody negative. Patient survival in FLJ14668 antibody positive and negative arms was also compared to predicted survival (as determined by the Halabi nomogram) in G-0010 by dose level (FIG. 6E). Results indicate that in all 3 G-0010 dose groups that survival was significantly increased over predicted in FLJ14668 seroconverters compared to those patients were an increase in FLJ14668 titer was not observed. Furthermore, the proportion of patients FLJ14668 antibody positive was dose-responsive comparing low, mid and high G-0010 dose groups (FIG. 6F).

6.4.4. Association of Neuronatin (NNAT) Ab Response to Survival in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.4.1 Cloning Strategy for NNAT

NNAT was cloned with a C-terminus Flag tag into a lentivirus plasmid vector, using a purchased synthetically constructed NNATFlag plasmid clone (GeneArt) to generate pKCCMV-NNATFlag (FIG. 7A). Briefly, the NNATFlag transgene was excised from the parental plasmid using EcoRI and SalI restriction enzymes and ligated into identical sites in the parental vector pKCCMVp53flagdR1. The resulting vector construct, pKCCMV-NNATFlag, was sequenced verified. SEQ ID NOS. 30 and 31 represent the NNATFlag amino acid and nucleotide sequence, respectively.

6.4.4.2 NNATFlag Protein Production

Flag-tagged NNAT was produced in mammalian cells and purified using affinity purification. In brief, twenty-four hours before transfection, 10 75 cm² plates were seeded with 5×10e6 cells/plate HEK293 cells. Twenty-four hours later, cells were transfected with 10 μg/plate of pKCCMV-NNATFlag using a calcium phosphate transfection kit (Clontech). Three days post-transfection cells were lysed with cell lysis buffer (+protease inhibitors) and NNATFlag protein purified using Anti-Flag M2 affinity columns (Sigma) according to manufacturing instructions.

6.4.4.3 Analysis of GVAX-Treated Patient Antibodies to NNAT Using ELISA

96 well plates were coated with 400 ng/well of purified NNAT overnight in bicarbonate buffer (coating buffer). Next day, wells were washed with PBST and then blocked using 1% BSA in PBST for 3 hours at room temperature. Following blocking, wells were washed in PBST and serum added at a 1:100 dilution in PBST+1% BSA. One and half hours post-serum addition, plates were washed and then incubated with a Donkey-anti Human IgG IgM HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson) diluted at 1:10,000 in PBST for 1 hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed and bound secondary antibody detected using TBM (KPL). Plates were then read at 450 nm. To determine induction of an NNAT antibody response, the post-GVAX O.D value was divided by the pre-GVAX O.D to determine a fold induction (FIG. 7B). Fold induction levels>2 were considered significant (as determined by normal controls). Twenty-five HRPC patients who received a full course (9 cycles) of Docetaxel (taxotere) chemotherapy were also evaluated for NNAT immunoreactivity over the course of treatment (pre- and post-taxotere) by ELISA. No patient induced a response over the course of therapy indicating the specificity of NNAT antibody induction to GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer treated patients.

6.4.4.4 Association of NNATFlag Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of NNAT Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored NNAT antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 7C). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the NNAT is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to NNAT protein (n=48) had a median survival of 34 m vs. 10 m in antibody negative pts (n=17), p=<0.001.

The patients with NNAT antibody had 69% reduction in hazard rate (HR), compared to those patients antibody negative.

6.4.5. Antibody Response to Cardiolipin in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.5.1 Analysis of GVAX-Treated Patient Antibodies to Cardiolipin Using ELISA

The induction of antibodies to cardiolipin were evaluated using a commercial kit (BioQuant). Briefly, patients serum diluted at 1:100 in PBST was added to wells coated with purified cardiolipin antigen. One and half hours post-serum addition, plates were washed 3×PBST and then incubated with enzyme-conjugated secondary antibody for 1 hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed and bound secondary antibody detected using TBM. Plates were then read at 450 nm. To determine induction of an cardiolipin antibody response, the post-GVAX O.D value was divided by the pre-GVAX O.D to determine a fold induction (FIG. 8A). Fold induction levels>2 were considered significant (as determined by normal controls). Twenty-five HRPC patients who received a full course (9 cycles) of Docetaxel (taxotere) chemotherapy were also evaluated for an increase in Cardiolipin antibody titer over the course of treatment (pre- and post-taxotere) by ELISA. No patient induced a response over the course of therapy indicating the specificity of Cardiolipin antibody induction to GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer treated patients.

6.4.5.2 Association of NNATFlag Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of Cardiolipin Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored Cardiolipin antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 8B). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the Cardiolipin is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to Cardiolipin protein (n=40) had a median survival of 38 m vs. 15 m in antibody negative pts (n=24), p=0.03. The patients with an increase in Cardiolipin antibody titer had 53% reduction in hazard rate (HR), compared to those no increase.

6.4.6. Antibody Response to SELS in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.6.1 Association of SELS Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of SELS Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored SELS antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 14). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the SELS is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to SELS protein (n=14) had a median survival of 51.9 m vs. 26.1 m in antibody negative pts (n=˜55), p=0.0273.

6.4.7. Antibody Response to HIGD2A in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.7.1 Association of HIGD2A Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of HIGD2A Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored HIGD2A antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 15). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the HIGD2A is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to HIGD2A protein (n=39) had a median survival of 32 m vs. 14.05 m in antibody negative pts (n=20), p=0.0179.

6.4.8. Antibody Response to SSR3 in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.8.1 Association of SSR3 Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of SSR3Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored SSR3 antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 16). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the SSR3 is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to SSR3 protein (n=34) had a median survival of 43.5 m vs. 19.4 m in antibody negative pts (n=28), p=0.0043.

6.4.9. Antibody Response to NRP2 in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

6.4.9.1 Association of NRP2 Immune Response and Survival in G-0010

The association of NRP2 Ab response with survival was examined in the patients from the phase 2 G-0010 GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer trial. Patients were scored NRP2 antibody positive or negative dependent on a fold induction of antibody titer>2 fold and the potential association with survival analyzed using the Cox regression model, adjusted for prognostic factors and dose group (FIG. 19). Data from all evaluable G-0010 pts demonstrate that induction of Ab to the NRP2 is significantly associated with survival. Patients with an induction of antibody response to NRP2 protein (n=36) had a median survival of 34 m vs. 21 m in antibody negative pts (n=33), p=0.0503.

6.4.10. Antibody Response to HLA-A24 and/or FLJ14668 in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

In addition to single antigen/antibody analysis with survival, it is also possible to group antigens together to further define the association of immune response with clinical response. FIG. 9 demonstrates the association of being HLA-A24 and/or FLJ14668 antibody positive with survival in G-0010 patients. Patients with an induction of antibody response to HLA-A24 and/or FLJ14668 (n=41) had a median survival of 43.5 m vs. 14.2 m in patients negative for antibodies to both antigens (n=24), p=<0.001. The patients with antibodies to either antigen had a 55% reduction in hazard rate (HR), compared to those patients antibody negative for both antigens.

6.4.11. Antibody Response to NNAT and/or Cardiolipin in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

FIG. 10 demonstrates the association of being NNAT and/or Cardiolipin antibody positive with survival in G-0010 patients. Patients with an induction of antibody response to NNAT and/or Cardiolipin (n=50) had a median survival of 32 m vs. 9.8 m in patients negative for antibodies to both antigens (n=14), p=<0.001.

6.4.12. Antibody Response to FLJ14668 and/or HLA-A24 and/or Cardiolipin in GVAX-Treated Prostate Patients from the G-0010 Trial

In addition to single and double antibody analysis with survival, it is also possible to group three antigens together to further define the association of immune response with clinical response. FIG. 11 demonstrates the association of being FLJ14668 and/or HLA-A24 and/or Cardiolipin antibody positive with survival in G-0010 patients. Patients with an induction of antibody response to FLJ14668 and/or HLA-A24 and/or Cardiolipin (n=47) had a median survival of 34.8 m vs. 11.4 m in patients negative for antibodies to all three antigens (n=19), p=<0.0001. The patients with antibodies to either antigen had a 68% reduction in hazard rate (HR), compared to those patients antibody negative for all three antigens.

6.4.13. A Combination of HLA-A24 and OTUB2 Antibody Responses Provide a Correlation with Patient Survival Across Multiple GVAX Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer Trials (G-0010 and G-9803)

Antibody responses to HLA-A24 and OTUB2 were then grouped together, given their correlation with survival as single antigens, to observe their ability to predict clinical outcome in G-0010 and G-9803 as a combination. The survival of patients who were OTUB2 and/or HLA-A24 antibody induction positive was compared to those patients negative for both responses. As shown in FIGS. 12A-12C, induction of antibodies to HLA-A24 and/or OUTB2 is associated with a statistically longer survival time in G-9803 metastatic HRPC patients (18 months increase in MST, p=0.0107, FIG. 12A), G-9803 PSA-rising HRPC patients (27.3 months increase in MST, p=0.0103, FIG. 12B) and G-0010 metastatic HRPC patients (20.1 months increase in MST, p<0.0001, FIG. 12C).

6.4.14. The Induction of HLA-A24, OTUB2 or FLJ14668 Immunoreactivity is Dose and Treatment Number Dependent in G-9803 and G-0010

We examined the impact of GVAX immunotherapy dose level in the G-0010 trial with the frequency of antibody responses to HLA-A24, OTUB2 and FLJ14668 (FIG. 13A). For all antigens examined, there was a step wise increase in the percentage of responding patients with increasing dose-level. The average number of treatments received in the antibody positive versus antibody negative arms of the G-0010 study were also compared for HLA-A24, OTUB2 and FLJ14668 (FIG. 13B-13 d). On average antibody-negative patients received 5.93, 5.6, 5.16 treatments for HLA-A24, OTUB2 and FLJ14668, respectively. In comparison, patients with an induced antibody response received 9.23, 9.62 and 9.44 treatments for HLA-A24, OTUB2 and FLJ14668, respectively (p<0.01 for all antigens).

6.5 Induction Of Anti-Trp-2 and Gp100 Immune Responses in a Murine Melanoma Model Using Lentivirus Modified Lewis Lung Carcinoma Cells

To evaluate whether a cell line can be genetically modified to induce an immune response to specific tumor-related antigens, preclinical studies were performed in the murine B 16 melanoma model. In this model, treatment with irradiated whole melanoma tumor cells genetically modified to secrete GM-CSF was initially shown to generate specific and long lasting anti-tumor responses against a B16 tumor challenge. In these experiments the unrelated cell line, Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC), was modified to secrete GM-CSF and over-express either of the two antigens Trp2 (LLC.GMKd.Trp2) or gp100 (LLC.GMKd.gp100) or both (LLC.GMKd.Trp2/gp100). Trp2 and gp100 each serve as melanoma target antigens that were previously identified to be involved in the immune-mediated rejection of B16 murine tumors. Lentiviral vectors encoding Trp2 or gp 100 under the control of the CMV promoter were constructed according to standard molecular techniques. LLC cells were then transduced with lenti-Trp2 and/or gp 100 and cell populations analyzed for antigen expression (FIG. 20). Analysis of the modified LLC cell lines by FACs and PCR indicate Trp2 and gp100 protein (FIG. 20A) and RNA expression (FIG. 20B).

The B16 murine model was then used to evaluate the capability of the LLC.GMKd.gp100, and LLC.GMKd.Trp2 cells to induce an antigens specific immune response. C57BL/6 animals were challenged with a lethal dose of 2×10E5 B16F10 cells. Three days post-challenge animals were immunized with 3×10E6 allogeneic GM-CSF-secreting B16F10 cells (B16F10.GMKd) as a multivalent antigen immunotherapy or with GM-CSF-secreting LLC cells modified to over-express either of the two B16-associated antigens Trp2 (LLC.GMKd.Trp2) or gp100 (LLC.GMKd.gp100) as single B16 antigen-specific immunotherapies. Seven days after immunotherapy, spleens (n=5/group) were removed and an ELISPOT assay was performed to evaluate the number of activated, IFN-γ secreting T-cells per 1×10E6 splenocytes when stimulated for 24 hours with peptides derived from the B16-associated antigens Trp2 or gp100. (FIG. 21). Results demonstrated that in comparison to the control treated mice, the genetically modified LLC cell lines LLC.GMKd.Trp2 and LLC.GMkd.gp100 induced Trp2 and gp100 specific immune responses, respectively.

The ability of modified LLC cells LLC.GMKd.Trp2 and LLC.GMKd.Trp2/gp100 to extend survival was then examined in the C57BL/6 B16F10 melanoma model. Animals were immunized on day 0 with 3×10E6 immunotherapy cells and challenged 7 days later with a lethal dose of live B16F10 cells. Compared to HBSS injected control mice, unmodified LLC.GMKd cells provided modest protection in the B 16 tumor model (FIG. 22). Anti-tumor protection was increased further by the use of LLC.GMKd.Trp2 and more significantly with the double antigen expressing LLC.GMKd.Trp2/gp100 immunotherapy (p=<0.01) with 90% of animals surviving long-term (70 day post-challenge).

6.6 Evaluation of Anti-tumor Efficacy of Immunotherapy with Proliferation Incompetent Tumor Cells that Express GM-CSF and a Prostate Tumor-Associated Antigen

The following provides exemplary methods for demonstrating that immunotherapy with cells genetically modified to express GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, e.g., HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3, NRP2, etc. leads to enhanced anti-tumor efficacy relative to immunotherapy with cells genetically modified to express GM-CSF or the one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens alone, as described herein.

An autologous, allogeneic or bystander cell line is modified to express a cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF, and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens, e.g., HLA-A24, FLJ14668, Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3, NRP2, etc., or a murine homolog thereof. The antigens are cloned into a mammalian based expression vector (e.g., a lentiviral expression plasmid) according to standard molecular techniques. The cell line is transduced with expression vectors for the one or more antigens and cytokine, if not already transduced with a cytokine expression vector, and analyzed for cytokine and antigen expression using standard techniques in the art, e.g. FACS, western blot, qRT-PCR, etc.

A murine mouse model, e.g., B16F10, is used to evaluate the antigen specific tumor response. Animals are challenged with a lethal dose of tumor cells, e.g., 2×10E5 B116F10 cells. Three days post-challenge, the animals are immunized with cells genetically modified to express cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF, alone, or cytokine and one or more prostate tumor associated antigens (or a murine homolog thereof). Seven days after immunotherapy, animals are evaluated for antigen specific immune responses, e.g, IFN-γ secreting T-cells, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, effector CD8 T-cell infiltration into tumors, and the like.

A murine mouse model, e.g., B16F10, is also used to evaluate anti-tumor efficacy in response to immunotherapy with cells genetically modified to express a cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens (or a murine homolog thereof). Animals are immunized on day 0 with immunotherapy with cells genetically modified to express a cytokine, e.g., GM-CSF, one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens alone, or a cytokine and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens. 7 days after immunotherapy, animals are given a lethal dose of live tumor cells. Animals are monitored twice weekly for the development of subcutaneous tumors and euthanize when tumors become necrotic or exceed 1500 mm3 in volume.

REFERENCES

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While many specific examples have been provided, the above description is intended to illustrate rather than limit the invention. Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

All sequences referenced by accession number, publications, and patent documents cited in this application are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent document were so individually denoted. Citation of these documents is not an admission that any particular reference is “prior art” to this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cancer immunotherapy comprising: administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (“GM-CSF”) and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2, wherein the cells comprise autologous tumor cells, allogenic tumor cells, or bystander cells.
 2. A method of inducing a de novo immune response against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens comprising: administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for GM-CSF and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2, wherein said administering induces a de novo immune response against one or more of said prostate tumor-associated antigens, wherein the cells comprise autologous tumor cells, allogenic tumor cells, or bystander cells.
 3. A method of increasing an immune response against one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens comprising: administering a composition to a subject with prostate cancer, the composition comprising one or more populations of cells genetically modified to express the coding sequence for GM-CSF and the coding sequence of one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 (SEQ ID NO.: 3), Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2, wherein said administering increases an immune response against one or more of said prostate tumor-associated antigens, wherein the cells comprise autologous tumor cells, allogenic tumor cells, or bystander cells.
 4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the prostate tumor-associated antigen is FLJ14668 (SEQ ID NO.: 3).
 5. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a single population of cells is genetically modified to express the coding sequence for GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 (SEQ ID NO.: 3), Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.
 6. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein two different populations of cells are genetically modified to express the coding sequence for GM-CSF and one or more prostate tumor-associated antigens selected from the group consisting of HLA-A24, FLJ14668 (SEQ ID NO.: 3), Cardiolipin, NNAT, SELS, HIGD2A, SSR3 and NRP2.
 7. The method according to any of claim 1 to 3, wherein said genetically modified cells are allogenic.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said genetically modified cells are allogenic.
 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said genetically modified cells are allogenic. 